By BONIFACE AKARAH

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have secured an agreement to reduce the price of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine by approximately 40 per cent, a move expected to save about $50 million for childhood immunisation programmes between 2027 and 2029.

The joint announcement, issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, said the deal would bring the vaccine price down to €5.50 per dose, with the reduction expected to take effect by early 2027, subject to regulatory and manufacturing milestones.

The agreement, executed by UNICEF and financially backed by Gavi, could enable up to one million additional children to receive the complete four-dose vaccination course or help countries reach more children with other vaccines.

However, UNICEF will begin procuring doses at the new price only after specified conditions are met, including World Health Organisation prequalification of a new manufacturing facility expected to increase supply capacity.

UNICEF Supply Division Director Leila Pakkala said the agreement would help expand access to malaria vaccines while supporting further innovation.

“This agreement is an important step towards protecting more children from malaria by expanding access to life-saving vaccines where they are needed most,” Pakkala said.

“At the same time, it sends a strong signal in support of continued innovation, helping to advance the development of next-generation vaccines that can further reduce the burden of malaria for future generations,” she added.

Gavi’s Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer, An Vermeersch, described the deal as an example of how partnerships and financing can improve access to vaccines.

“Today’s announcement is a powerful example of what the Vaccine Alliance does best: bringing together financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to shape healthier vaccine markets and expand access for the children who need vaccines most,” Vermeersch said.

The agreement was enabled by an advance payment from the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), which supports access to life-saving vaccines through innovative financing.

IFFIm Board Chair Georgina Baker said the transaction demonstrated the continuing relevance of the organisation’s financing model as it marked 20 years of supporting vaccine access.

“Impact is at the heart of IFFIm’s mission,” Baker said. “As we mark twenty years of helping expand access to life-saving vaccines, this transaction demonstrates the continued relevance of IFFIm’s model.”

She added that the organisation was established to accelerate vaccine access, increase availability and reduce costs so more children could be protected sooner.

Demand for malaria vaccines has exceeded initial forecasts since rollout began in 2024. UNICEF has so far procured and delivered more than 74 million doses.

The Gavi-funded malaria vaccination programme has become part of routine immunisation in 25 African countries that collectively account for more than 70 per cent of the global malaria burden.

The price reduction comes amid concerns over declining international aid funding and efforts by Gavi to vaccinate an additional 50 million children against malaria by 2030.

The disease remains a major global health threat. The release cited an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2024, with Africa accounting for up to 95 per cent of cases and deaths. Children under five accounted for about 74 per cent of malaria deaths.

A complete four-dose course of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine can reduce malaria cases by about 75 per cent when administered seasonally in areas with high seasonal transmission, according to the joint release.

The partners said the lower price builds on the transfer of vaccine production to a manufacturer in a developing country and is intended to support a more sustainable and competitive market.

They noted that long-term access would depend on affordable prices, sufficient manufacturing capacity, reliable supply and the availability of multiple vaccine options.

The partners also stressed that vaccination must remain part of a broader malaria-control strategy that includes insecticide-treated nets, other vector-control measures, preventive medicines, prompt diagnosis and treatment.

They warned that rising temperatures could alter malaria transmission patterns and expose previously less-affected areas, while flooding and other extreme weather events could displace communities, damage infrastructure and disrupt health services.

UNICEF is the world’s largest buyer of vaccines, delivering more than three billion doses annually. Together, Gavi and UNICEF work with countries and manufacturers to strengthen vaccine markets, expand supply and integrate vaccines into national immunisation programmes.