Gavi and UNICEF announce equitable pricing deal for malaria vaccine : Shared by Tom McDermott

 

Gavi and UNICEF announce equitable pricing deal for malaria vaccine to protect 7 million more children by end of decade

UNICEF/Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

UNICEF/Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

November 23, 2025

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Summary

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF announced a new agreement to reduce the price of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines to $2.99 per dose within approximately one year, generating up to $90 million in savings.

The savings will enable the procurement of more than 30 million additional doses, allowing the full vaccination of nearly 7 million more children against malaria over the next five years. The deal is financed through the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) mechanism, which transforms long-term donor pledges into immediate cash. Over 40 million malaria vaccine doses have been delivered through the Gavi programme and are now part of routine immunization in 24 African countries representing more than 70% of the world's malaria burden. In 2023, there were an estimated 597,000 malaria deaths globally, with about 95% occurring among children under five in Africa. Both WHO-prequalified malaria vaccines reduced cases by more than half in the first year after vaccination in clinical trials.

Quotes

"Today's announcement is a powerful example of what our Vaccine Alliance does best: leverage innovative financing and partnerships to shape vaccine markets and secure access to affordable vaccines – saving lives and delivering economic benefits to countries in the process." - An Vermeersch, Gavi's Chief Vaccine Programmes & Markets Officer

"A child dies from malaria every minute, a devastating death toll of nearly half a million young lives claimed each year. At this critical juncture of unprecedented decline in funding for international aid, UNICEF is determined to continue our proactive work with partners to deliver enough vaccines at the best possible price to immunize and protect children from preventable diseases." - Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division

"IFFIm exists to turn ambition into action. This agreement shows how financial innovation can unlock opportunities that save lives. By enabling Gavi to move quickly, we're not just funding vaccines – we're helping fight malaria and create a future where every child has a fair chance at protection." - Ken Lay, Chair of the Board of Directors, IFFIm