India approves first dengue vaccine

India approves first dengue vaccine

India has approved the use of its first dengue vaccine, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to tackle a disease that affects millions of people each year.

According to India’s Ministry of Health, authorities approved the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda’s dengue vaccine, Qdenga, on July 21. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has cleared the vaccine for people between the ages of 4 and 60.

Health officials say the vaccine could help protect children, teenagers, and adults from dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection that can sometimes develop into a severe and potentially life-threatening illness. The vaccination schedule consists of two doses administered three months apart.

Takeda developed the vaccine in partnership with Indian pharmaceutical company Biological E, which is working with the Japanese firm to support its production in India.

According to media reports, Qdenga offers protection against all four major dengue virus serotypes. Regulators in 42 countries have already approved the vaccine, while more than 24 million doses have reportedly been administered worldwide. So far, health authorities have not identified any major safety concerns linked to its use.

The approval comes as India continues to face a substantial dengue burden. More than one million dengue cases have reportedly been recorded across the country since 2021, with around 1,500 deaths linked to the disease during the same period.

Dengue spreads primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and remains a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions. India’s approval of Qdenga could provide health authorities with another tool to reduce the impact of dengue, particularly during periods when mosquito populations rise and infections increase.