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The WHO said that only 57% of Nigerians are immunised with the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria.

MenAfriVac is given to 1- to 29-year-olds, who are most vulnerable to bacterial meningitis; one possibility is to lower the upper age limit for the pentavalent vaccine.

But the diseases prevented by the pentavalent vaccine kill many of the youngest infants.

Clinical trials will begin next year on a ‘pentavalent’ meningitis vaccine that targets meningitis A and C and three other serotypes known to cause disease, says Alderson.

They represent the vaccines against polio, pneumonia and rotavirus, as well as the pentavalent shot, which protects against five diseases.