John Zarocostas
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has secured a deal to purchase the pentavalent vaccine — a combination of five vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b — at an average price of US$0.84, half what the agency pays now.
Unicef announced on 19 October 2016 that it had reached agreement with six suppliers to buy 450 million doses of the vaccine, a cornerstone of routine immunisation programmes. Most of the vaccines will be allocated to the 73 countries supported by the Gavi vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership committed to increasing access to vaccines.
Shanelle Hall, director of Unicef’s supply and procurement division, says: “Through lower prices and multiple supply base, we have the best access since [the pentavalent vaccine] was launched 16 years ago.”
She also notes that the new pricing agreement will generate over US$366m in savings for donors and governments.
The manufacturers that have agreed to supply the pentavalent vaccine at the reduced price are: Biologica E Limited (India); Janssen Vaccines Corporation (India); LG Life Science Limited (South Korea); Panacea Biotec Limited (India); Serum Institute of India; and Shantha Biotechnics (India).
