Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF have announced a landmark agreement that will make the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine far more accessible and affordable. This move is expected to save millions of children from one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

The deal, backed by Gavi and executed by UNICEF, could generate up to US$90 million in savings—enough to provide more than 30 million additional doses, protecting nearly 7 million more children over the next five years. The arrangement is financed by Gavi through the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), an innovative mechanism that provides immediate funds from long-term donor pledges.

The lower price of the vaccine – at US$ 2.99 per dose – is anticipated to take effect in approximately one year. The deal reflects a shared commitment by Gavi and UNICEF to shape a sustainable, competitive malaria vaccine market and to meet the Alliance’s target to fully vaccinate 50 million more children against malaria by 2030. The agreement follows a commitment at Gavi’s June 2025 pledging summit in Brussels to lower vaccine costs and expand access.

The "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,” said An Vermeersch, Gavi’s Chief Vaccine Programmes & Markets Officer.

“There has been an unprecedented demand for this new tool that will better protect children against one of Africa’s largest killers of children under five, and we thank our partners who are helping us match the strong commitment countries have already shown to the malaria vaccine.”

“A child dies from malaria every minute, a devastating death toll of nearly half a million young lives claimed each year,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “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.”

This milestone was made possible thanks to IFFIm, Gavi’s innovative financing engine.

“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,” said Ken Lay, Chair of the Board of Directors, IFFIm.

In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths globally, 11 million more cases than the previous year.