GAVI Alliance in pact with Biological E to lower vaccine cost

NEW DELHI, APR 18:  

The cost of immunising millions of the world’s most vulnerable children against five deadly and debilitating diseases is set to fall due to a supply agreement of GAVI with India based Biological E Ltd for five-in-one injections.

“A supply agreement with Biological E Ltd of India makes the five-in-one shot available to GAVI for just $1.19 per dose, compared to the 2012 weighted average price of $2.17,” GAVI Alliance web site today said.

GAVI Alliance was created in 2000 to accelerate the introduction of new vaccines so that all children, no matter where they live, had the same access to this life-saving technology.

This new, more cost-effective price provides the opportunity for the GAVI Alliance to pay up to $150 million less over the next four years compared with using lowest cost alternative suppliers, it added.

Commenting on the development, Seth Berkley, CEO, GAVI Alliance said: “This is great news for children in the world’s poorest countries and it shows that our innovative public— private partnership model is working well.”

Demand for Pentavalent vaccine has been strong, with 70 of the 73 GAVI-eligible countries having already introduced it.

Pentavalent vaccines combine the antigens for five infectious diseases in a single shot, namely diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

“This partnership demonstrates the growing role of developing world manufacturers in the sustainable supply of effective, affordable vaccines,” Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E said on the development.

Commenting on the agreement Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates said: “More affordable vaccines help us save and protect more children.”