Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF have entered into a significant agreement aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine. This collaboration is set to save up to $90 million for Gavi and participating nations, translating into the potential delivery of over 30 million additional doses of the vaccine over the next five years. As a result, nearly seven million more children will be able to receive vaccination against malaria. The initiative is funded by Gavi through an advance payment scheme supported by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). With a projected price of $2.99 per dose, the new pricing is expected to become effective within about one year.
Gavi plays a crucial role in the global fight against malaria by facilitating the procurement, logistics, market shaping, and integrating malaria vaccines into national immunisation efforts. To date, its malaria vaccination program has successfully delivered over 40 million doses, which are now part of regular immunisation schedules in 24 African countries that account for over 70% of the global malaria burden.
As the largest vaccine buyer worldwide, UNICEF delivers nearly three billion vaccine doses annually, effectively vaccinating almost half of the globe's children. The organization collaborates closely with strategic vaccine producers to secure the most competitive pricing on vaccines.
To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified two malaria vaccines, namely R21/Matrix-M, co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, and RTS,S/AS01, developed by GlaxoSmithKline and PATH, among others. Both vaccines have undergone rigorous testing and have been endorsed by WHO for their safety and efficacy in preventing malaria in children. In Phase-3 clinical trials, both R21/Matrix-M and RTS,S/AS01 demonstrated more than a 50% reduction in malaria cases during the first year post-vaccination—a critical time when children are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, when administered seasonally in high-transmission areas, the efficacy of both vaccines in reducing malaria cases is about 75%, targeting regions where the majority of childhood malaria fatalities occur.