WHO Calls on COVID-19 Producers to Reduce Price

• The WHO made the call after reports that two producers of COVID-19 vaccines will raise the cost they are charging the European Union (EU).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to reduce their prices and make them affordable.

The WHO made the call after reports that two producers of COVID-19 vaccines will raise the cost they are charging the European Union (EU).

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna announced they are upping the prices for their meddenger RNA vaccines because they have been upgraded to the new virus variants.

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The Pfizer vaccine will jump from 15.5 euros to 19.5 euros ($18.35 to $23) and Moderna from 19 euros to 21.5 euros ($22.5 to $25.45), British newspaper the Financial Times revealed Sunday, citing the contract concluded with the European Union.

Mariangela Simao, the WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, told a press conference on Wednesday: “It’s very important that we have companies state policies of affordable prices.”

She said both Pfizer and Moderna had increased their manufacturing capacities, diversified their plants and increased production line efficiency.

“In a normal market situation, this would lead to a decreased price, not an increasing price.

“We have a market where the demand is very high in comparison with production.

“WHO urges companies to keep prices down and affordable prices.”

Half of the EU population has now been fully vaccinated, according to the official sources.