In Q3 of 2018, Nigeria and its partners will introduce meningitis A vaccine into routine immunization
HealthNews.NG can exclusively report that Nigeria will introduce the Meningitis A vaccine into its routine immunisation later this year, this was confirmed by Gavi, the global vaccine alliance.
Gavi told HealthNews.NG it is supporting the Nigerian government of Nigeria to introduce the Meningitis A vaccine in Q3 or Q4 of 2018.
Meningococcal meningitis is the most common form of bacterial meningitis: a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This disease can kill up to 50% of infected people if left untreated.
“Although meningococcal meningitis is observed worldwide, the highest burden of the disease is in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. Around 30 000 cases are still reported in the area every year. Since 2010 and the roll-out of a meningococcal A conjugate vaccine through mass preventive immunization campaigns in the meningitis belt, the proportion of cases caused by the A serogroup has declined dramatically,” Gavi told HealthNews.NG.