Beslutningen menes at kunne redde 4 millioner menneskeliv i 2015
Several leading drugmakers are cutting their prices on potentially life-saving vaccines for people in developing countries in an effort to sustain supplies via the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI).
The price cuts, offered by both generic (kopimedicin) and branded drugmakers including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Johnson & Johnson’s Crucell and Sanofi-Aventis’ Sanofi Pasteur, should help the alliance narrow a 3,7 billion US dollar funding gap for its commitments up until 2015.
The agreements will help GAVI prevent an extra 4 million deaths by 2015 by rolling out new vaccines to tackle the main killers of children: pneumonia and diarrhea. Merck will offer RotaTeq, its oral vaccine for rotavirus, to the UN Children’s Fund, a GAVI Alliance partner, at 5 dollar (25 DKR) a dose.
GlaxoSmithKline offered to sell its rotavirus vaccine at 2,50 per dose, or 5 dollar to fully immunize a child, a 67 percent reduction in the current lowest available public price.
In related news, it was reported, that the UK will match tens of millions of pounds in private sector donations to fund immunization programs in the developing world, in a drive to generate international support for 250 million extra vaccinations over the next four years.
Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said he would increase British contributions to GAVI in proportion to support from companies, their employees and customers round the world.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
