License new dengue vaccine, says Malaysian virologist

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry should consider approving a newly released dengue vaccine to combat the ever-increasing number of cases in the country, says Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit.

The virologist and Universiti Malaya emeritus professor said the Takeda dengue vaccine, known as Qdenga (TAK-003), was approved for use on those who had dengue.

“Despite an intensified integrated vector control programme in the country, including the use of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes mosquitoes in hotspots in the Klang Valley, the number of dengue cases has not declined significantly,” said Lam who is also a senior fellow of the Sciences Academy Malaysia.

“In terms of safety, Qdenga has been generally well tolerated, and no important safety risks have been identified.

“The European Union (EU) gave approval for the licensing of Qdenga in October 2022, and it is currently available for children and adults in the EU, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Thailand and Brazil,” said Lam

He added that the Qdenga dengue tetravalent live attenuated vaccine was recommended by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (Sage) in October 2023. It recommends that the two-dose vaccine be introduced to children aged six to 16 years.

“The Health Ministry should look into the licensing of the Qdenga vaccine as soon as possible so that individuals who wish to be vaccinated can have access to it immediately,” said Lam.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through infected mosquito bites.

It can cause many symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to mild disease, with high fever, severe headache, and acute joint and muscle pain. In rare cases, it could also cause internal bleeding, shock and death.

There is no specific treatment for dengue, but early detection and access to medical care lower its fatality rate to below 1%.