Qdenga vaccine set for approval to tackle dengue

More than 1,000 people are being infected with dengue every day in Bangladesh. Several people are also dying each day. Amid the dengue outbreak, the issue of vaccines has come under renewed discussion in the country.

The government is discussing the introduction of dengue vaccines in Bangladesh with international organizations. The government may soon approve the Qdenga vaccine, which has already been approved in neighboring India. However, no trial of the vaccine will be conducted in Bangladesh. The vaccines imported privately can be purchased and administered on an individual basis.

Public health experts said Bangladesh has become interested in the dengue vaccine after its approval in India. Vaccines are an effective tool against viruses. However, a short trial and necessary scientific evaluation should be conducted before approving the vaccine in Bangladesh. This is because once a negative perception about a vaccine develops among people, it can have far reaching consequences.

India’s drug regulatory authority approved the dengue vaccine Qdenga in July this year. Despite the approval, Qdenga is not yet available in the Indian market. The vaccine may enter the market in the first half of 2027.

Developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, the vaccine is designed to provide protection against four types of dengue virus, DENV 1, DENV 2, DENV 3 and DENV 4. Two doses of the vaccine are required with a three-month interval between the doses.

Dr SM Ziauddin Haider, special assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, said, “The government is working on the approval and import of the dengue vaccine for individual use. Qdenga is being brought in considering safety. In the long term, a decision will be made on whether to introduce it through the government system after reviewing the trial results. However, the high price of the vaccine could be a barrier here.”

Qdenga is being used to prevent dengue in more than 40 countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Argentina and Thailand. It is the second dengue vaccine to receive prequalification from the World Health Organization. Clinical studies have found evidence of Qdenga’s efficacy. Long term studies have also found that the vaccine continues to provide protection against hospitalization. However, the World Health Organization has set certain conditions for the use of Qdenga.

Mushtaq Hossain, former chief scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and a public health expert, said, “A severe situation has developed in the country due to dengue. The government has not been able to control Aedes mosquitoes in any way. In that case, a vaccine could be an effective means of preventing dengue. However, before approving the vaccine, consideration should be given to which age groups will receive it and whether a nationwide vaccination program will be introduced. The approval of a dengue vaccine had to be suspended once before. If such a situation occurs again, people’s confidence in the vaccine could be damaged.”

Bayzid Ahmed, former director of the Disease Control Division of the Directorate General of Health Services and a public health expert, said the dengue vaccine is not an easy or short-term solution in the current context of Bangladesh.

He said, “Preventing dengue through vaccination is not impossible, but it is difficult. Herd immunity cannot be achieved through vaccination at the individual level. Rather, access for low-income people will become another issue because of the high price of the vaccine. A trial in Bangladesh is essential before approving the dengue vaccine.”

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health Ziauddin Haider said no trial would be conducted in Bangladesh before approving the Qdenga vaccine.

He said, “Qdenga has been trialed in many countries. It has also been trialed in neighboring India. It is prequalified by the World Health Organization. Therefore, there is no need for a new trial in Bangladesh.”

It is not yet known exactly when Qdenga may receive approval. Mohammad Naim Goldar, director in charge of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, said they have not yet received any application for approval of Qdenga. He said that if an application is submitted, it will be reviewed according to all rules and a decision will be made.

He also said, “A few months ago, the Directorate General of Drug Administration had given permission to icddr,b to conduct a trial of the dengue vaccine Prodengue imported through Incepta Pharmaceuticals Limited. The trial was later suspended.”

Dr MA Muhit, state minister for Health and Family Welfare, said, “All four serotypes of the dengue virus are currently spreading in Bangladesh. People are being infected with dengue more than once. Therefore, we also need to consider vaccines for long term dengue prevention. However, it is not happening for now.”

Nasrin Sultana, director of the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), said, “Aedes mosquitoes must be controlled to prevent dengue. This is the main method. However, the dengue vaccine could also be an effective method.”

8 more deaths in 24 hours: Eight more people have died of dengue fever in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours. During the same period, 1,860 patients were admitted to hospitals. The Directorate General of Health Services disclosed the information in a notice issued Wednesday.

According to DGHS data, 289 people have died of dengue in Bangladesh from January this year until now. A total of 92,216 dengue cases have also been detected.

The directorate said two people each died of dengue in Dhaka South City Corporation, Khulna Division and Rajshahi Division in the past 24 hours. One person each died in Barishal Division and Sylhet Division.

Of the eight people who died, five were women and three were men.