Men5CV Vaccine

Context:

Nigeria became the 1^st country to rollout a new meningitis vaccine, known as Men5CV.

Men5CV Vaccine:

• Protects people against 5 strains (A, C, W, Y and X) of the meningococcus bacteria.
• Recommended by – World Health Organization (WHO)
• Funded by – Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI)

Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known as the African Meningitis Belt.

Meningitis:

• A serious infection or inflammation of meninges (3 layers of membranes known as meninges protect the brain and spinal cord)
• Caused by – Species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
• Prevalent regions – African Meningitis Belt in sub-Saharan Africa
• Transmission –
  • Meningococcus, pneumococcus, and Haemophilus influenza bacteria – Transmitted through respiratory droplets or throat secretions.
  • Group B streptococcus in the human gut or vagina – Transmitted from mother to child during childbirth.
• Vaccination –
  • Available for Meningococcus, Pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Example: Meningococcal A conjugate vaccine

Types of meningitis:

Types of Meningitis	Causal Agents
Bacterial Meningitis	Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitides
Viral Meningitis	Herpes simplex virus, HIV
Fungal Meningitis	Cryptococcal meningitis
Parasitic Meningitis	Amoeba

Road map to meningitis:

• In 2019, WHO and partners launched the global roadmap to defeating meningitis by 2030.
• 3 goals –
  • Elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics;
  • Reduction of cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%
  • Reduction of disability and improvement of quality of life after meningitis due to any cause.

Source: Down to Earth

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Previous Year Question

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

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