India has approved its first dengue vaccine, a step public health experts have been watching for as the mosquito-borne disease continues to spread in many parts of the world.
Onmanorama reports that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation granted marketing authorisation for Qdenga, a vaccine made by Takeda and imported by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India. The article says the vaccine is indicated for preventing dengue disease in people ages 4 to 60.
The report notes that Qdenga is given in two doses, three months apart, and that the decision followed a scientific evaluation of quality, safety, and efficacy, including a Phase III study in an Indian population.
Vaccination will not replace mosquito control, surveillance, and early diagnosis. But it can reduce the number of people who get sick and ease pressure on clinics during outbreaks, especially in places where dengue hits hardest year after year.
