Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone in global health by becoming the first country to implement the Men5CV vaccine against meningitis. The news was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Meningitis poses a severe threat in Nigeria, which is recognized as one of the hotspots for the disease in Africa. The WHO reported a troubling 50% increase in annual cases across 26 African nations designated as meningitis hyperendemic countries just last year.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that the rollout of the Men5CV vaccine in Nigeria marks a crucial advancement in combating meningitis and brings the world closer to the ambitious target of eliminating the disease by 2030. Data from the WHO reveals the urgency of this initiative, with 1,742 suspected cases and 153 deaths recorded between October of last year and mid-March this year across seven Nigerian states.
What sets the Men5CV vaccine apart is its effectiveness against the five major strains of meningitis prevalent in Nigeria, compared to the initial vaccine, which only targeted one strain. This broader protection is vital to curbing the spread of the disease and safeguarding the population against its devastating effects.
