Status of the Rollout of the Meningococcal Serogroup A Conjugate Vaccine in African Meningitis Belt Countries in 2018

BACKGROUND: A novel meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV [MenAfriVac]) was developed as part of efforts to prevent frequent meningitis outbreaks in the African meningitis belt. The MACV was first used widely and with great success, beginning in December 2010, during initial deployment in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Since then, MACV rollout has continued in other countries in the meningitis belt through mass preventive campaigns and, more recently, introduction into routine childhood immunization programs associated with extended catch-up vaccinations. METHODS: We reviewed country reports on MACV campaigns and routine immunization data reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa from 2010 to 2018, as well as country plans for MACV introduction into routine immunization programs. RESULTS: By the end of 2018, 304 894 726 persons in 22 of 26 meningitis belt countries had received MACV through mass preventive campaigns targeting individuals aged 1–29 years. Eight of these countries have introduced MACV into their national routine immunization programs, including 7 with catch-up vaccinations for birth cohorts born after the initial rollout. The Central African Republic introduced MACV into its routine immunization program immediately after the mass 1- to 29-year-old vaccinations in 2017 so no catch-up was needed. CONCLUSIONS: From 2010 to 2018, successful rollout of MACV has been recorded in 22 countries through mass preventive campaigns followed by introduction into routine immunization programs in 8 of these countries. Efforts continue to complete MACV introduction in the remaining meningitis belt countries to ensure long-term herd protection.