For years, India has battled seasonal dengue outbreaks that overwhelm hospitals during the monsoon months. Every year, thousands of people develop high fever, severe body pain, low platelet counts, and in some cases, life-threatening complications that require intensive medical care. While mosquito control and personal protection have remained the main ways to prevent the disease, there has never been a widely approved vaccine available for the Indian population.
That is now changing.
India has approved QDENGA (TAK-003), the country’s first dengue vaccine, marking an important step in the fight against the mosquito-borne illness. The vaccine is designed to protect against all four types of the dengue virus and can be given without first checking whether a person has previously been infected with dengue, a major advantage over some earlier dengue vaccines developed elsewhere.
However, doctors say that while the vaccine is a significant breakthrough, it is not meant for everyone. People still need to understand who is eligible, who should avoid it, and why mosquito control measures remain just as important.
According to Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant – Infectious Diseases, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore, QDENGA has been approved in India for people aged 4 to 60 years.
This means the vaccine can be given to:
– Children aged 4 years and above
– Teenagers
– Adults up to 60 years of age
– People living in regions where dengue outbreaks occur frequently
The approval offers a preventive option for millions of Indians who are exposed to dengue every year, particularly during the rainy season.
A MAJOR ADVANTAGE: NO BLOOD TEST NEEDED
One of the biggest benefits of QDENGA is that people do not need a blood test before getting vaccinated.
Some earlier dengue vaccines required testing to confirm whether a person had previously been infected with dengue, because vaccination could carry different risks depending on past infection.
Dr Aishwarya explains that QDENGA removes this extra step, making vaccination much simpler and easier to implement. Dengue is caused by four different virus types (serotypes). Infection with one type does not provide complete protection against the others, which is why some people can get dengue more than once.
QDENGA has been developed to provide protection against all four dengue virus serotypes, helping lower the risk of severe disease.
The approval of QDENGA marks a significant milestone in India’s public health efforts against dengue. By offering protection against all four dengue virus types without requiring prior testing, the vaccine has the potential to make dengue prevention more accessible for eligible children and adults.
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