GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has made a new extended price-freeze commitment to the governments of Gavi-eligible countries. Gavi is a private-public partnership that aims to increase access to vaccination in 73 developing countries. With this offer, developing countries that graduate from Gavi support due to increased economic wealth will be able to continue to purchase vaccines against pneumonia, diarrhea, and cervical cancer at discounted Gavi prices for a decade after graduation in order to ensure sustainable vaccination programs in developing countries in the long term.

From 2016, 22 countries with growing economies will begin to graduate from Gavi support. This process allows Gavi to focus resources on the poorest countries while enabling governments to take increasing responsibility and ownership for vaccination programs over time. GSK also said that if the company identifies new manufacturing efficiencies that reduce the costs of producing these vaccines, it will pass those savings on to Gavi and its donors.

GSK is a long-standing partner of Gavi and for many years has reserved its lowest vaccine prices for Gavi-eligible countries. In the 15 years since its formation in 2000, Gavi has helped to fund the immunization of half a billion children. GSK supplies vaccines for rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, and cervical cancer. GSK has committed to provide more than 850 million vaccine doses that will help protect up to 300 million children in the developing world by 2024.

Source: GlaxoSmithKline