Gavi leverages IFFIm to secure lower price for Malaria vaccine, accelerating protection goal

SWITZERLAND—Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF have secured a groundbreaking agreement that will make the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine more affordable and accessible to millions of children across Africa.

The deal promises to generate up to USD90 million in savings for Gavi and participating countries over the next five years.

These savings will enable the purchase of more than 30 million additional vaccine doses, fully protecting nearly 7 million more children against malaria.

Gavi finances the agreement through an advance payment made possible by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), an innovative funding mechanism that converts long-term donor pledges into immediate cash.

The new price of USD2.99 per dose will take effect in approximately one year.

This pricing reflects Gavi and UNICEF’s commitment to building a sustainable, competitive malaria vaccine market while advancing their goal of fully vaccinating 50 million more children against malaria by 2030.

An Vermeersch, Gavi’s Chief Vaccine Programmes & Markets Officer, emphasized that the announcement demonstrates how the Vaccine Alliance leverages innovative financing and partnerships to shape vaccine markets and secure affordable access.

She noted the unprecedented demand for this tool, which will better protect children against one of Africa’s largest killers of children under five.

Through the Gavi malaria vaccination programme, over 40 million vaccine doses have already reached 24 African countries, which collectively represent more than 70% of the world’s malaria burden.

Gavi manages the procurement, logistics, market shaping, and integration of malaria vaccines into national immunization programs.

UNICEF, as the world’s largest vaccine buyer, delivers nearly three billion doses annually—enough to vaccinate almost half of the world’s children.

Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division, highlighted the urgency of this work, noting that a child dies from malaria every minute, resulting in nearly half a million young lives lost each year.

Ken Lay, Chair of IFFIm’s Board of Directors, explained that the facility transforms ambition into action by enabling Gavi to move quickly when opportunities arise.

This financial innovation demonstrates how smart funding tools can deliver life-saving impact at scale.

In 2023, malaria caused an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths globally, with about 95% of fatalities occurring in Africa’s children under five.

The World Health Organization estimates that treating an uncomplicated malaria case in sub-Saharan Africa costs USD 4–7 per outpatient visit, while severe cases requiring hospitalization can exceed USD 70.

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