Nigeria has become the first country to roll out a meningitis vaccine, known as Men5CV, recommended by the World Health Organization.
The vaccine, which protects against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria, provides broader protection than the current vaccine used in much of Africa, which is only effective against a single strain.
Nigeria is one of the world’s most affected countries by meningitis. It aims to vaccinate 1 million people aged 1-29.
Meningitis is a serious infection that leads to the inflammation of the membranes (meninges) that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Bacterial meningitis is the most serious, can also result in septicemia (blood poisoning), and can seriously disable or kill within 24 hours those that contract it.
“Meningitis is an old and deadly foe, but this new vaccine holds the potential to change the trajectory of the disease, preventing future outbreaks and saving many lives,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“Nigeria’s rollout brings us one step closer to our goal to eliminate meningitis by 2030,” he said.