Malaria vaccine price cut to protect 1 million more children

Bharat Biotech, Gavi and UNICEF have agreed to reduce the price of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine by around 40%, with projected savings of $50 million for child immunisation programmes between 2027 and 2029.Bharat Biotech, Gavi and UNICEF have agreed to reduce the price of the RTS,S/AS01 New Delhi,Oct 26, 2026 12:32 ISTUnder the agreement between Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, the price of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine will fall by around 40%, to €5.50 per dose. The reduction is expected to take effect in early 2027 and could save around $50 million for childhood immunisation programmes between 2027 and 2029. The change is subject to manufacturing and regulatory requirements.WHAT IS THE MALARIA VACCINE, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Young children are particularly vulnerable, and severe malaria can lead to serious complications and death.For years, developing a malaria vaccine was a major scientific challenge. That changed in 2021, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended RTS,S/AS01 as the first malaria vaccine for widespread use among children at risk. The vaccine was developed by GSK, PATH and their partners. Bharat Biotech is taking over its production to help increase supply, and plans to manufacture it under the brand name Mosqivac.There is now a second WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, which received the recommendation in 2023. Both vaccines are intended to help protect children in areas where malaria is common.HOW MUCH PROTECTION DOES THE VACCINE OFFER? The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine is given in a four-dose course. According to UNICEF, the full course can reduce malaria cases by about 75% when administered seasonally in areas where malaria transmission is highly seasonal.However, the vaccine does not provide complete protection. Children still need other preventive measures, including mosquito nets, mosquito control and timely medical care if they develop symptoms.WHY IS THE PRICE CUT A BIG DEAL?A lower vaccine price means that countries could use their immunisation budgets to protect more children.The new agreement is expected to save around $50 million over three years. According to Gavi and UNICEF, those savings could help provide the full four-dose vaccination course to up to one million additional children or allow countries to reach more children with other vaccines.Demand for malaria vaccines has been higher than initially expected since their rollout began in 2024. UNICEF reports that more than 74 million doses have been procured and delivered so far, and malaria vaccination is now part of routine immunisation programmes in 25 African countries.MALARIA STILL CLAIMS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVESThe scale of the disease explains why expanding access to prevention matters.In 2024, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths were reported globally. Africa accounted for up to 95% of cases and deaths, while children under five made up around 74% of malaria deaths in the region, according to figures cited by UNICEF.The challenge is not just making vaccines available, but ensuring that children in the hardest-hit areas can receive them. Funding, vaccine supply and access to healthcare all play a role.CAN A VACCINE ALONE STOP MALARIA?No. Vaccination is an important addition to existing malaria-control measures, not a replacement for them.Mosquito nets, repellents, mosquito-control measures, preventive medicines where recommended; early diagnosis and prompt treatment remain important. Climate change and extreme weather can also make malaria control harder by altering transmission patterns and disrupting healthcare services.The price reduction is therefore more than a change in the cost of a vaccine. If the agreement delivers the expected savings and additional doses, it could help more children access protection against a disease that remains a major cause of childhood illness and death.- Ends