Vaccine prices

As a result of a GAVI call to action in 2011, one manufacturer offered its rotavirus vaccine at US$ 2.50 per dose, a 67% reduction on the previous lowest price paid by GAVI. Another manufacturer offered its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at US$ 5 per dose, a 64% reduction on the lowest public price at the time. As countries prepare to apply for HPV vaccine support for the first time, GAVI is actively pursuing further price reductions from manufacturers.

GAVI currently buys the majority of its vaccines in the pentavalent vaccine market. Predictable country demand for this vaccine and assured funding from GAVI has attracted new manufacturers to this market. In 2001, GAVI procured vaccines from just one manufacturer. By 2011 this had increased to four manufacturers, two of which were based in emerging market economies.

In 2010 and 2011, pentavalent vaccines produced by two Indian manufacturers were removed from the WHO list of prequalified vaccines due to concerns over quality control procedures. This highlighted the difficulty of producing large quantities of high-quality vaccines, given the complexity of the technologies involved. However, thanks to careful planning and efforts by the remaining manufacturers and procurement partners, supply disruptions were avoided or kept to a minimum. By procuring vaccines that have been prequalified by WHO, GAVI aims to ensure that the vaccines it supports are safe and effective and meet the specific needs of each country.