India has approved its first dengue vaccine for widespread use, authorising QDENGA for individuals aged 4 to 60 years without requiring pre vaccination screening, a move health authorities say could strengthen efforts to combat one of the country’s most persistent mosquito borne diseases.
India’s drug regulator approved QDENGA, developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, following a review of clinical data demonstrating the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness against dengue infection. The approval makes India one of several countries to authorise the vaccine for broad public use.
Unlike some earlier dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require recipients to undergo testing to determine whether they have previously been infected with the virus before vaccination. Health experts say removing the need for pre vaccination screening could simplify immunisation programmes and improve access, particularly in areas with high dengue transmission.
India records hundreds of thousands of dengue infections each year, particularly during the monsoon season when mosquito populations increase. The viral disease, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, can cause high fever, severe headaches, joint pain and, in some cases, life threatening complications such as dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
Takeda said it plans to work with Indian health authorities and other stakeholders on the rollout of the vaccine. Officials have not yet announced whether QDENGA will be included in India’s national immunisation programme or how it will be distributed across the country.
Public health specialists welcomed the approval, describing it as an important step in reducing the burden of dengue in one of the world’s most affected countries. They noted, however, that vaccination should complement rather than replace mosquito control measures, including eliminating breeding sites, improving sanitation and encouraging personal protection against mosquito bites.
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