March 2024: Nigeria responded to a meningitis C outbreak

Nigeria prepared to deploy over 1.6 million doses of the MenFive pentavalent vaccine in March to combat a growing meningitis C outbreak in two northern states. According to local media, 1,043,377 doses have been approved by WHO’s International Coordinating Group to address the outbreak in six areas of Jigawa: Babura, Birniwa, Gagarawa, Gumel, Maigatari and Sule Tankarkar. Separately, WHO reported that 587,870 doses have been allocated to neighboring Yobe state, targeting susceptible people between ages 1-29 in Fika, Nangare and Potiskum. The developments mark the first deployment of doses from the Gavi-funded stockpile in an emergency setting. WHO prequalified MenFive in July 2023. Nigerian Tribune; WHO; Gavi; Daily Trust