India Approves Qdenga Dengue Vaccine Amid Rising Cases

India has approved the Qdenga dengue vaccine, marking a major step in the country's fight against the mosquito-borne disease. The move comes as dengue cases continue to rise across several states, putting pressure on the healthcare system.

Developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, Qdenga is a live-attenuated vaccine designed to protect against all four serotypes of the dengue virus. It is already in use in several countries, including Indonesia and Brazil.

Who Should Get the Vaccine?

Doctors in Kolkata and Bengaluru have begun explaining who the vaccine is suitable for. The consensus is that it is not a universal jab for everyone.

According to experts from the city's major hospitals, the target group is individuals aged four to 60 who have had a prior laboratory-confirmed dengue infection. The vaccine is given in two doses, three months apart. For those who have never been infected, the vaccine may carry a small risk of severe disease if they catch dengue later, similar to the phenomenon seen with the earlier Dengvaxia vaccine.

In Bengaluru, doctors have hailed the vaccine as a significant advance in public health. They point out that it offers a new tool to reduce the burden on hospitals during peak dengue season. However, they stress that vector control and public awareness remain essential.

A Long-Awaited Step

India has long needed a safe and effective dengue vaccine. The country reports lakhs of cases each year, with thousands of severe cases and hundreds of deaths. Outbreaks typically peak during and after the monsoon season.

The approval came through the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which reviewed clinical trial data from multiple countries. The vaccine has been shown to reduce hospitalisation due to dengue by about 84% in clinical studies.

Experts caution that the vaccine is not a silver bullet. It must be part of a broader strategy that includes mosquito control, early diagnosis and proper clinical management.

What Doctors Are Saying

Doctors in Kolkata have highlighted the importance of pre-vaccination screening. They recommend that individuals get a dengue IgG antibody test before taking the shot. If the test is positive, indicating a past infection, the vaccine is safe and effective. If negative, doctors advise against vaccination until more data is available.

In Bengaluru, infectious disease specialists have welcomed the approval but warn against complacency. They note that the vaccine's efficacy wanes over time and that booster doses may be needed in the future.

The cost of the vaccine has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be priced at a few thousand rupees per dose. The government has not indicated whether it will be included in the national immunisation programme.

What happens next will depend on how quickly the vaccine reaches clinics and how well the public and doctors adopt screening protocols. For now, the approval offers a cautious ray of hope in India's long battle against dengue.