Nigeria has become the first country to receive a groundbreaking new MenFive vaccine aimed at combating meningitis outbreaks in the country.
The vaccine, funded by the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), holds promise in addressing the ongoing meningococcus C outbreak in the country.
The vaccine, developed through a remarkable 13-year collaboration between PATH and the Serum Institute of India, with support from the UK government, targets five main strains of meningococcal meningitis, including the elusive serogroup X.
This means it can offer vital protection against a range of meningitis strains prevalent in Africa.
The Director of High Impact Countries at Gavi, Dr Tokunbo Oshin said with outbreaks of infectious diseases on the rise worldwide, new innovations such as MenFive are critical in helping the world fight back.
In a statement obtained by Lafiya360 on Thursday, the director of high impact countries at Gavi, Dr Tokunbo Oshin said with outbreaks of infectious diseases on the rise, new innovations such as MenFive are critical in helping the world fight back.
Dr Oshin said “Thanks to vaccines, we have eliminated large and disruptive outbreaks of meningitis A in Africa: now we have a tool to respond to other meningococcal meningitis serogroups that still cause large outbreaks resulting in long-term disability and deaths.”
He said the deployment of the MenFive vaccine not only aims to address the immediate crisis but also signals a broader initiative to strengthen vaccination efforts in high-risk countries.
He noted that Gavi’s support for a multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MMCV) programme will see the MenFive vaccine integrated into routine immunization programmes and outbreak response strategies.
A major breakthrough
Meningitis, according to the World Health Organization , is transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory and throat secretions, is an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
The potentially fatal illness impacting the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, poses a significant danger in regions like Africa.
Nigeria, especially in areas like Jigawa state, has been contending with outbreaks, causing serious health worries.
GAVI said the vaccine will be used to respond to an on-going meningococcus C outbreak, targeting to vaccinate around a million children in six LGAs in Jigawa state.
The LGAs are Babura, Birniwa, Gagarawa, Gumel, Maigatari, and Sule Tankarkar.