Nigeria becomes the inaugural recipient of the new Meningitis Vaccine from the Vaccine Alliance-backed global stockpile, distributed by the United Nations Children’s Fund, as revealed in a press statement by Gavi.
Meningitis, transmitted through respiratory and throat secretions, poses severe risks, including hearing loss, brain damage, and even death.
The MenFive vaccine, addressing major meningococcal serogroups in Africa, is deployed to combat an ongoing outbreak in Jigawa state, aiming to vaccinate approximately one million children across six local government areas.
Developed over 13 years with UK government support, this vaccine, prequalified by WHO, signifies a pivotal tool in mitigating meningitis outbreaks.
Gavi, a key player in global vaccine supply, emphasizes collaboration with partners like UNICEF and WHO to address the outbreak effectively, marking the beginning of support for a multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine strategy in high-risk regions.
