Pressroom
Vaccines Group Gets Cut-Price Rotavirus Shots
Source: Reuters
By: Kelland, Kate
04/10/2012
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) will purchase 132 million doses of rotavirus vaccine at a cost of around $5 per two-dose course from GlaxoSmithKline and Merck. The drugmakers have agreed to slash prices by two-thirds, compared to the previous low offer of $15 a course. GAVI says the cut-price will allow it “to respond to ever-increasing demand from developing countries” and provide shots to 3 million children in eight poor nations this year. By 2016, GAVI plans to offer vaccines in more than 40 of the world’s poorest countries, immunizing more than 70 million children.
