COVID-19 vaccines pricing policy options for low-income and middle- income countries

Abstract

Correspondence to Dr Javier Guzman; jguzman@ mtapsprogram. org © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Reuse permitted under CC BYNC. No commercial reuse. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. INTRODUCTION Affordable and equitable access to medical products and technologies have long been a challenge for health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted this critical challenge, making it a priority agenda issue for countries globally. Prices drive health expenditure and ultimately populationwide coverage and access to novel products. For example, DIME, an InterAmerican Development Bankfunded project, estimated that Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico would have to allocate five times their annual immunisation budgets to cover their highrisk populations if prices recently announced for two leading vaccine candidates in highincome countries were held for these three countries. The high prices increase the financial burden for populations and governments. As part of a broader policymaking process, one role for government is developing and implementing wellplanned pricing policies and guidelines to help ensure affordable and equitable access. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, limits pricing policy options. It is therefore necessary to consider what appropriate policy options governments can use to ensure affordable and equitable access to these novel products.