Five-in-One Vaccine Could Put an End to These Deadly Epidemics

Across Africa’s “meningitis belt,” countries are introducing a new vaccine that targets all major strains of meningococcal bacteria, offering hope of ending the devastating epidemics that have killed hundreds of thousands.

“It’s a powerful new weapon that, with wider rollout, has the potential to protect millions of vulnerable people,” said Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow at the University of Southampton.

Developed through a 13-year collaboration between the Serum Institute of India and PATH, the Men5CV vaccine protects against five bacterial strains, A, C, Y, W and X, and costs just $3 a dose. Early rollouts in Niger and Nigeria are already underway, with Mali, Ghana and Chad set to follow. The jab is temperature-stable and easy to distribute, which is crucial in regions where dust, heat, and conflict fuel infection cycles. Building on the success of 2010’s MenAfriVac, which virtually eliminated group A meningitis, experts say Men5CV could help the World Health Organization achieve its goal of eradicating epidemic meningitis in Africa by 2030.