We are in the middle of the rainy season, and parents in Southeast Asia know the drill: mosquito coils, repellent sprays, and constantly scanning for stagnant water. Here, dengue fever is a constant worry and remains a significant public health concern – having affected over 11,000 lives in Singapore, 100,275 lives in Malaysia, and over 186,000 cases in Indonesia since the beginning of 2024 alone. In Indonesia, the number of cases is currently three times higher than in the same period in 2023.
While traditional mosquito control methods are essential, they should be complemented by innovative solutions to ensure comprehensive protection. The emergence of dengue vaccines offers a new layer of defense for families but misconceptions around vaccine safety and efficacy can cause hesitation.
Five Dengue Vaccine Facts Every Parent Should Know:
- A new dengue vaccine has been recently approved and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In May 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a new dengue vaccine called TAK-003 in its position paper on dengue vaccines. The WHO recommended countries to consider introducing dengue vaccination into their public vaccination programs in places where the high infection rate of dengue poses a significant public health threat.
Within the same month, the WHO added the same TAK-003 dengue vaccine to its List of Prequalified Vaccines. This means that the WHO has assessed and validated the vaccine’s quality and reliability as an important dengue prevention method suitable for use in public vaccination programmes. These recommendations provide reassurance from WHO, a trusted global health authority, that people can rely on to protect against dengue.
- TAK-003 can be given with or without dengue infection
Yes, TAK-003 can be given to individuals, whether they have had dengue before or not. It is important to know that people can get dengue more than once, and a second infection may lead to more severe symptoms and outcomes. This new vaccine helps to protect against dengue for both people who have been infected with dengue previously and those who have not. Plus, there is no need for dengue status testing before getting the vaccine. TAK-003, given as two doses three months apart, can protect against dengue.
- The dengue vaccine is recommended for both parents and children.
Correct. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the use of TAK-003 in individuals aged 4 and above. The new dengue vaccine has been approved in over 40 countries worldwide, including the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, providing important protection for families in regions where dengue is a serious threat.
- Studies show that TAK-003 provides long-lasting protection against dengue.
TAK-003 has undergone extensive research through a large multi-country clinical trial, with long-term follow-up of up to 4.5 years. The results demonstrate that TAK-003 is safe and effective in preventing dengue fever and hospitalizations due to dengue. Furthermore, the study showed that TAK-003 provides long-term protection, regardless of whether or not the individuals have had dengue.
A year after vaccination, the vaccine was still 80.2% effective in protecting against dengue and reduced hospitalisations due to dengue by 90.4% after 18 months. There has been no evidence that the vaccine makes the disease worse, and the vaccine was generally well tolerated, with no important safety risks identified after long-term follow-up.
- TAK-003 has already been approved in more than 40 countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
TAK-003 has been approved in more than 40 countries including the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. In Southeast Asia, the vaccine has been approved and is available in Indonesia and Thailand, Malaysia and recently in Vietnam.
Indonesia launched a provincial dengue fever vaccination program with TAK-003 in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan, in late 2023, marking the country’s first vaccination programme of this kind. The provincial vaccination program has been on track as Balikpapan Dinkes reported that 75% of the target population of 9,800 children had been administered TAK-003 as of early February 2024. The provincial dengue vaccination program has now been expanded to children in Probolinggo and in Samarinda.
In South America, to help combat its surge in dengue cases, Brazil incorporated TAK-003 to its national immunization program in early 2024. Later in the year in August, Argentina started a targeted vaccination program to prioritize the vaccination of young people in regions with high dengue cases.
Debunking 5 common myths about dengue vaccine myths
After learning more about the latest vaccine, let’s bust some myths:
Myth 1: Dengue vaccines aren’t safe for children.
Fact: The new dengue vaccine has shown to be safe for children and adults, regardless of their previous exposure to dengue. The EMA approved TAK-003 in children aged 4 and above in 2022, and in Brazil, the vaccine was incorporated into the National Immunization Program in early 2024 as part of holistic measures to counter the sharp rise in dengue cases.
Myth 2: Dengue vaccines are only for those who have been infected with dengue previously.
Fact: The newly approved dengue vaccine, TAK-003, is effective for both those who have and haven’t had dengue before. The WHO recommends that dengue vaccination should be introduced in countries where dengue infection rates are high.
Myth 3: Dengue is just a bad flu.
Fact: While dengue symptoms can start like the flu, it can quickly escalate into a serious illness with potentially life-threatening complications. Severe dengue may lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, which can result in death if not treated. Some warning signs of severe dengue include persistent vomiting, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, fatigue, and bloody stool. As children may be unable to vocalise their pains, it is important for parents to be able to spot these symptoms, and visit a doctor if symptoms persist.
Myth 4: Papaya leaf juice can cure dengue.
Fact: This is a common myth. While papaya leaf juice might help boost platelet count, there’s no scientific evidence to support it as a cure for dengue.
Myth 5: Herd immunity is enough to protect my family.
Fact: Herd immunity is when most people in a community are immune to an infectious disease, either from vaccines or previous infections. Although it provides a degree of protection, herd immunity only works if most people in the population have received immunity from the disease through prior infection or vaccination. Because the majority of the population is not vaccinated against dengue, relying solely on herd immunity is not enough to protect your family from dengue infections. Dengue has four strains, and immunity to one doesn’t guarantee protection from the others. For this reason, comprehensive protection is necessary, and vaccination is one of the critical components of a multifaceted strategy against dengue that includes various tactics like using mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeve clothing, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
Ready to take charge of your family’s health?
Consult your family doctor about dengue vaccines and discuss whether it is suitable for your family. Remember to stay vigilant against mosquito bites and utilize all available dengue prevention approaches. By staying informed and taking proactive measures, we can collectively combat dengue as a community and safeguard everyone’s health.