Gavi, UNICEF Secure Major Price Cut for India-Made Malaria Vaccine

Global vaccine alliance Gavi and UNICEF have announced a significant price reduction for the R21 malaria vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. The cost will drop by 25% — from around $4 to $2.99 per dose — within a year, enabling wider access amid declining international aid. The move is expected to bolster child immunization efforts in some of the world’s poorest regions.

According to Gavi, the reduced price will generate an estimated $90 million in savings, enough to fund 30 million additional doses and protect up to 7 million more children over the next five years. This comes after Gavi fell $3 billion short of its fundraising target earlier this year, as donors shifted focus to other global priorities. UNICEF’s supply division highlighted the importance of such partnerships at a time of shrinking aid.

A full four-dose course of the R21 vaccine will now cost $11.96, offering a more affordable alternative to GSK’s existing malaria vaccine priced at around $10 per dose. Malaria continues to claim over 500,000 lives annually, primarily among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. Treatment costs remain high, with severe cases exceeding $70 per hospital visit, underscoring the importance of accessible preventive measures.

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