Response to GSK’s announcement of the pricing drop for the PCV vaccine

Tuesday, 20 September 2016

Save the Children is pleased to welcome this new commitment from GSK for pneumococcal vaccine for refugee and internally displaced people and the intention to widen this to other vaccines in the future.

Alongside other NGOs, we have been calling for pharmaceutical companies to reduce their prices to allow all humanitarian organisations to buy at the same lowest price that is available through GAVI . As part of our five-year partnership with GSK, we have been able to make the case directly to the company for price reductions for all humanitarian situations, including disasters, provide evidence of the need and engage in a dialogue with them about their pricing policy.

Non-governmental organisations and charities often have to step in where governments cannot or will not fulfil their responsibilities, especially, but not only, for refugee and internally displaced people. Providing vaccination is a very important function to reduce outbreaks of pneumonia and other infectious diseases and ensure children do not come to further harm.

We look forward to discussing the detail of implementing this policy change, and in which situations it will apply, with GSK along with encouraging other companies to follow their lead.

Notes to Editors

About GSK and Save the Children partnership:

GSK and Save the Children launched a ground-breaking partnership in 2013. This collaboration combines their innovation, resources and expertise to help improve the health and prospects of some of the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable children. The partnership aims to help save one million children’s lives
The partnership’s mission is in line with global objectives, including the new Sustainable Development Goals, to reduce preventable child deaths. In 2015, 5.9 million children under five died from preventable causes
Developing the antiseptic chlorhexidine gel – and researching other child-friendly medicines – is one of a number of partnership initiatives. Other programmes include widening access to vaccination; training community health workers; responding to humanitarian crises; and advocating together for increased access to healthcare
Since 2013, the partnership has reached more than 1.3 million children with lifesaving immunisations, treatments and other interventions
The partnership has helped ensure over 23,000 children are fully immunised; treated more than 125,000 children for malaria, diarrhoea or pneumonia; and trained more than 10,000 health workers to reach some of the most vulnerable and marginalised children and communities

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