Millions more children to be protected from five diseases thanks to new vaccine supply agreement

Published: 21-Oct-2016

5-in-1 pentavalent vaccine will come from a broad base of manufacturers at half the 2016 average price for the next 3 years


Gavi, the vaccine alliance, welcomes the results of the UNICEF pentavalent vaccine tender that will secure sufficient supplies for the next 3 years to protect millions of children in Gavi-supported and transitioning countries.

Moreover, pentavalent vaccine - a cornerstone of routine immunisation programmes – will be accessible from a broad base of manufacturers at less than $1: half this year’s average price.

'We estimate that pentavalent vaccination will avert 5.7 million deaths in Gavi-supported countries between 2011 and 2020,' said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the vaccine alliance. '

The market for five-in-one vaccines is now a lot healthier than it was just a few years ago thanks to our collective efforts to grow a base of vaccine suppliers. We remain committed to making vaccine markets work better for the world’s poorest countries to ensure immunisation investments and efforts are sustainable for all.'

Since Gavi’s inception close to 300 million children have been reached with the vaccine and all 73 countries supported by the Alliance had introduced pentavalent vaccine by the end of 2014.

'Preventing illness through immunisation can have a huge impact on the social and economic well-being of individuals, families, communities and countries,' added Dr Berkley. 'The vaccine industry is a vital partner in ensuring that sufficient quantities of quality vaccines are available at affordable prices so that countries and donors implement sustainable immunisation programmes, increase coverage and promote equitable access to vaccines.'

The alliance’s objective with this tender is to maintain and sustain a healthy vaccine market by securing sufficient supply to meet demand, by providing sufficient buffer supply capacity, and by managing individual supplier and national regulatory authority risks.

While obtaining lower weighted average prices is good news for the alliance as it generates more value for money, Gavi also aims to stimulate long-term competition and access to appropriate innovation.

During the next 3 years, the alliance and countries procuring pentavalent vaccines through the UNICEF tender are expected to save close to $366 million.

Pentavalent vaccine protects against five major infections in one shot: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Hib, Haemophilus influenza type b (the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and otitis).

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