In 2016 there were approximately 318,000 deaths due to meningitis globally, the majority of these in Africa’s “meningitis belt,” during the outbreak season (December – June.) Up until 2015, outbreaks were effectively controlled by routine access to meningitis A vaccine. Recent outbreaks, however, are now largely the result of meningitis C, and thus access to multivalent vaccines is needed.

Global stockpiles exist for Meningitis, Yellow Fever, and Cholera. These stockpiles are managed through the International Coordinating Group (ICG) and are funded by Gavi. The ICG, which is comprised of representatives from Médecins Sans Frontières, the United Nations International Emergency Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, works to provide sufficient supply necessary to address outbreaks during each epidemic season. Through a contract with various members of the ICG, Pfizer has committed close to a million doses of meningococcal vaccines to the stockpile, for the duration of the contract.