Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Advanced Market Commitment for pneumococcal vaccines; and whether it should be continued.

The Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for Pneumococcal Vaccines (PCV) incentivises vaccine manufacturers and generates competition by encouraging additional manufacturers to the market. So far, 114 million children have been vaccinated with AMC-supported pneumococcal vaccines, saving 762,000 lives.

The UK assess AMC to be an effective and efficient mechanism to improve vaccine coverage at a lower cost. It scored an A+ in its last annual review. In March 2019, Pfizer reduced the price of PCV for 73 developing countries from US$3.30 in 2017 to US$2.90 per dose. This further reduction is estimated to save Gavi and developing country governments up to US$ 4.1 million.

An independent 2015 evaluation identified AMC’s supply arrangements as a critical factor in encouraging vaccine manufacturers to expand their capacity to produce safe, effective vaccines. As part of the planning process for the next phase for Gavi, the UK and other stakeholders are exploring all innovative financing options which can improve global immunisation in poor countries.