Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF have formed a new partnership to procure large quantities of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) at significantly discounted rates. Under the new agreement, the vaccine will be supplied at $2.99 per dose, reduced from the previous price of $4. This price reduction is anticipated to result in savings of up to $90 million, enabling an additional 30 million doses to be delivered over the next five years and potentially vaccinating nearly 7 million more children.
The deal is supported by Gavi’s International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) and aligns with the Alliance’s commitment to fund vaccination programs targeting deadly diseases such as cervical cancer, Ebola, malaria, meningitis, pneumonia, and rotavirus.
The R21 malaria vaccine, co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India using Novavax’s Matrix-M adjuvant, is pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Clinical studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce malaria cases by more than 50% in the first year post-vaccination, and by about 75% when administered seasonally in areas with highly seasonal malaria transmission.
Malaria remains a persistent epidemic, particularly in Africa, which continues to suffer the highest disease burden. In 2024, the disease accounted for an estimated 597,000 deaths globally, with children under five being the most affected.
Gavi’s Chief Vaccine Programmes & Markets Officer, An Vermeersch, highlighted the unprecedented demand for this vaccine and praised the partnership for leveraging innovative financing and market-shaping to better protect children against one of Africa’s biggest killers. The collaboration marks a significant step forward in the fight against malaria and aims to expand access to life-saving vaccines for vulnerable communities worldwide.
