Malaria vaccine: The Global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and UNICEF have negotiated a 25% price cut for the R21 malaria vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. This move will allow more children to be vaccinated despite a squeeze on international aid.
Under the new agreement, the price of each R21 dose will fall from around $4 to $2.99 within about a year. UNICEF purchases the shots using funds from Gavi, which supports governments in the world’s poorest countries to immunise children.
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Gavi estimates the lower price will save around $90 million over the next five years. That saving could pay for an additional 30 million doses, extending protection to up to 7 million more children.
The agreement comes after Gavi fell by around $3 billion short of its fundraising target at a replenishment event earlier this year, as major donors, including the United States, shifted attention to other priorities.
“At this critical juncture of unprecedented decline in funding for international aid, UNICEF is determined to continue our proactive work with partners,” said Leila Pakkala, director of UNICEF’s supply division.
Babies need four doses of R21 for full protection, bringing the cost of a complete course to $11.96 at the new price. Malaria still kills more than 500,000 people each year, mostly children under five in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to figures cited by Gavi from the World Health Organization, treating an uncomplicated case of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa costs between $4 and $7 per outpatient visit, while severe cases needing hospitalisation can cost more than $70.
R21 is one of two approved malaria vaccines. The other, developed by GSK, is currently priced at around $10 per dose. Earlier this year, GSK and Bharat Biotech said they plan to cut that price by half when Bharat Biotech assumes production in 2028.