Vaccines: The price of protecting a child from killer diseases

Each year, the lives of two and a half million children are saved because they are protected against killer diseases through vaccination. Vaccinating with new vaccines should save many more lives, but high prices could prevent this from happening. Prices are rising and countries will end up footing the bill When vaccine prices are high, fewer vaccines are purchased, and fewer children are vaccinated. Ten years ago, it cost countries less than US $1.50 to buy the main recommended vaccines to protect a child’s life. But today, the lowest price for the recommended package of vaccines has risen to nearly $40. That’s because not only are more vaccines now included in immunization programs, but many new vaccines cost much more than older traditional vaccines. Two new vaccines alone—against rotavirus and pneumococcal disease—now make up around three quarters of the total cost of vaccinating a child. While adding more vaccines to the basic package is...