India Approves First Dengue Vaccine, A Major Milestone in Public Health

India Approves First Dengue Vaccine, A Major Milestone in Public Health

India has approved its first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda. The vaccine is designed to protect against all four dengue virus types and has been approved for people aged 4 to 60 years. It is the first dengue vaccine to receive regulatory approval in the country.

Clinical trials showed that the vaccine was over 80% effective in preventing confirmed dengue infections and more than 90% effective in reducing dengue-related hospitalizations. The vaccine will be given in two doses, three months apart, and does not require recipients to have had dengue previously.

Health experts believe the approval is a significant step in India's fight against dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that has increased sharply over the past two decades. The vaccine is expected to become available in the private healthcare sector in 2027.