Nigeria Leads with New Meningitis Vaccine | 18 Apr 2024

Nigeria has made history by being the first country globally to introduce the Men5CV vaccine, a groundbreaking step in combating meningitis.

This new vaccine, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), provides protection against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria in a single dose, surpassing previous vaccines that targeted fewer strains.
With a recent surge in cases across the continent, the introduction of Men5CV aligns with WHO's goal to eliminate meningitis by 2030.
Meningitis is a serious infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
- The disease can be caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, fungi or viruses, but the highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis.
- Several different bacteria can cause meningitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis are the most frequent ones.