| ■ Vaccine alliance says 5-in-1 vaccine cost to fall | 2010.11.26 |
| The price of a life-saving vaccine against five deadly diseases is expected to drop further in 2011, allowing more of the world's poorest children to be immunized, the global vaccines group GAVI said on Friday. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization said that thanks to increased demand for the pentavalent, or five-in-one vaccine and a reduced price offer by an un-named emerging market vaccine manufacturer, the average price will drop to $2.58 next year compared to the current average price of $2.97. This represents a decrease of 30 percent over the last seven years, GAVI said in a statement. The pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and hepatitis B, is routinely given to children in wealthy nations but price has kept it out of the reach of some poorer nations. |