Geneva, New York, and Copenhagen — 24 November 2025 — Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF today announced a new agreement that will make the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine significantly more accessible and affordable, paving the way to protect millions more children from one of the world's deadliest diseases. The deal secures a future price of US$2.99 per dose — a reduction of approximately 25% from the previous price of around US$4 — and is expected to generate up to US$90 million in savings for Gavi and partner countries.
The savings are equivalent to more than 30 million additional doses, enabling the full vaccination of nearly 7 million more children against malaria over the next five years. The agreement was executed by UNICEF, financially backed by Gavi, and made possible through the innovative International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) mechanism.
A Vaccine Market Shaping Milestone
The pricing deal reflects a shared commitment by Gavi and UNICEF to shape a sustainable, competitive malaria vaccine market. It follows a commitment made at Gavi's June 2025 pledging summit in Brussels to lower vaccine costs and expand access. The lower price is anticipated to take effect in approximately one year.
The 24 countries that have introduced malaria vaccines into their routine childhood immunization programmes include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. Seven countries — Burundi, Uganda, Mali, Guinea, Togo, Ethiopia, and Zambia — introduced the vaccine for the first time in 2025.
The Toll of Malaria
In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths globally — 11 million more cases than the previous year. Approximately 95% of deaths, mainly in children under five, occurred in the African Region, where many still lack access to basic prevention and treatment.
Two Vaccines, One Goal
WHO has prequalified two malaria vaccines:
| Vaccine | Developer | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| R21/Matrix-M | University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax's Matrix-M adjuvant technology | Lower cost; large-scale manufacturing capacity at Serum Institute of India |
| RTS,S/AS01 | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), PATH, and partners | First malaria vaccine to complete Phase 3 trials; pilot implementation since 2019 |
Both vaccines target Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa. In Phase 3 clinical trials, both vaccines reduced malaria cases by more than half during the first year after vaccination. A fourth dose given in the second year of life prolonged protection. When given seasonally in areas of highly seasonal transmission — where half of childhood malaria deaths occur — both vaccines reduce malaria cases by approximately 75%.
Innovative Financing Through IFFIm
The milestone was made possible thanks to IFFIm, Gavi's innovative financing engine. By transforming long-term donor pledges into immediate cash, IFFIm gives the Alliance the agility to act quickly when market-shaping opportunities arise. The advance payment mechanism enabled Gavi to secure the equitable pricing agreement.
Since its inception in 2006, IFFIm has mobilised billions to accelerate immunisation. Its donors comprise Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, with the World Bank serving as treasury manager.
The Fastest Vaccine Rollout in Gavi's History
The malaria vaccine rollout has been described as the fastest in Gavi's history. Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi first introduced the vaccine in 2019 as part of the WHO-led Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) pilots, co-funded by Gavi, the Global Fund, UNITAID, and other partners. Fourteen countries introduced the vaccine for the first time in 2024, and seven more followed in 2025.
Voices from the Announcement
An Vermeersch, Gavi's Chief Vaccine Programmes & Markets Officer, stated: "Today's announcement is a powerful example of what our Vaccine Alliance does best: leverage innovative financing and partnerships to shape vaccine markets and secure access to affordable vaccines — saving lives and delivering economic benefits to countries in the process."
Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division, said: "A child dies from malaria every minute, a devastating death toll of nearly half a million young lives claimed each year. At this critical juncture of unprecedented decline in funding for international aid, UNICEF is determined to continue our proactive work with partners to deliver enough vaccines at the best possible price to immunize and protect children from preventable diseases."
Ken Lay, Chair of the Board of Directors of IFFIm, commented: "IFFIm exists to turn ambition into action. This agreement shows how financial innovation can unlock opportunities that save lives. By enabling Gavi to move quickly, we're not just funding vaccines — we're helping fight malaria and create a future where every child has a fair chance at protection."
Sources
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Gavi and UNICEF announce equitable pricing deal for malaria vaccine to protect 7 million more children by end of decade (24 November 2025). Available at:
- UNICEF Canada: Gavi and UNICEF announce equitable pricing deal for malaria vaccine (24 November 2025). Available at:
- Reuters: Gavi, Unicef sign deal to cut malaria vaccine price (24 November 2025). Available at:
- United Nations News: Malaria vaccine price cut set to protect 7 million more children by 2030. Available at:
- WHO: Q&A on RTS,S malaria vaccine. Available at:
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