The Vaccine Journey - Making the Vaccine: The First step

Vaccines are incredibly complex to manufacture, even more so when combining five vaccines into one. The key ingredient of any vaccine is the antigen, the molecule derived from real bacteria, viruses, proteins and toxins that are harmful to our bodies. A small dose of antigens triggers our immune system to produce antibodies, which recognize them are foreign substances and protect the body from “attacks”. Through this response to a specific antigen, a vaccine builds the body’s ability to protect itself. The pentavalent vaccine contains five antigens. During the entire manufacturing process, which can take two years, vaccines undergo several hundred quality control tests to ensure they are safe and of the highest quality. In 2016, UNICEF put suppliers in competition by holding several rounds of bidding for large contracts and publishing the prices. UNICEF struck a deal with six vaccine manufacturers to provide three years’ worth of pentavalent vaccines at 84 US cents a shot. It was the culmination of an 18-year-long process to make these vaccines available to children in the world’s poorest countries.

Learn more about UNICEF Supply Division's work on our website: https://www.unicef.org/supply/ and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.