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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has assured a third vaccine that protects children against certain types of pneumonia.

The vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate, will be more affordable compared to existing ones.

If it sticks to its previous statement, the Serum Institute of India indicated that the new vaccine would cost about R85 (US$6) per child to the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI), which is a donor-funded organisation that helps the poorest countries to access vaccines.

The Serum Institute of India indicated middle-income countries will get the vaccine for not more than R157 (US$11,20) to middle-income countries.

These proposed prices are less than the R130 (US$9,30) charged per child on existing vaccines to GAVI for vaccination of children in poorest countries and as much as R1 140 (US$81,60) per child for middle-income countries that don’t qualify for GAVI support.

Zimbabwe introduced vaccination against pneumonia in 2012 and the GAVI has been supporting the purchase of this vaccine since then.

Until now, pharmaceutical corporations Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have maintained a duopoly on current vaccines for nearly 20 years.

In a statement yesterday, Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) welcomed the new development, saying it will go a long way in improving the accessibility of pneumonia vaccines to about 55 million children around the world who still do not have access, largely due to high  prices.

Many of these children reside in countries deemed middle-income, who cannot benefit from special prices negotiated by  Gavi.

“This is a monumental day for kids around the world and the governments that are trying to protect them from life-threatening pneumonia, said MSF’s senior vaccines policy advisor for the access campaign,” Ms Kate Elder.

“A more affordable pneumonia vaccine is a game changer in protecting more children against the world’s number one childhood killer.”

MSF has been calling for an affordable pneumonia vaccine for years, requesting that it be priced at no more than R70 per child.

“This new and more affordable vaccine from an Indian manufacturer is anticipated to break the long-standing duopoly by pharmaceutical corporations, Pfizer and GSK,” said Ms Elder.

“To save as many lives as possible, we call on WHO, UNICEF and GAVI to step-up and help governments access this more affordable vaccine as rapidly as possible.”

“We also expect the Serum Institute of India to extend the lowest global price for its new pneumonia vaccine to all humanitarian organisations.”

In the meantime, governments that wish to purchase this new vaccine are advised to consider using the WHO Collaborative Registration Procedure to accelerate its registration.