What is known about Qdenga, the new dengue vaccine – 03/03/2023 – Health

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) approved this Thursday (2) a new vaccine against dengue – the first approved in the country for a wider audience.

Unlike the previously approved immunizer, which was only recommended for those who already had the disease, this can also be applied to those who have never had contact with the disease virus.

Check out what is known about the new dengue vaccine, Qdenga, from the Japanese company Takeda Pharma:

How Qdenga works

Takeda Pharma’s vaccine is made up of attenuated versions of four different serotypes of the dengue virus. In tests, it showed an overall effectiveness of 80.2% against the disease after 12 months of applying the second dose. The studies also indicated that Qdenga reduced hospitalizations by 90%.

“The demonstration of the efficacy of the Qdenga vaccine is mainly supported by the results of a large-scale, phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted in dengue-endemic countries, with the objective of evaluating the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. vaccine”, highlighted Anvisa.

After the application of the vaccine, the immune system identifies the attenuated serotypes as foreign and begins to produce antibodies against them. When the vaccinee is later exposed to the virus, the immune system recognizes it and can quickly produce more antibodies, which neutralize the infectious agent before it can cause dengue.

Recommendation and application

The new vaccine is indicated for the age group of 4 to 60 years, for those who have never had or have had dengue. It is applied in a two-dose scheme, with an interval of three months between applications.

The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and also people who have illnesses with weakened immune systems due to illness or medication.

With approval in Brazil, it can be marketed in the private network and in the Unified Health System (SUS). The Ministry of Health still needs to decide whether to incorporate it into the public system.

In 2022, Qdenga was approved by the European health agency, EMA.

Side effects

The side effects most associated with the new vaccine are pain and redness at the application site, headache and muscle pain, in addition to general malaise and weakness. Some vaccinees also had a fever.

The EMA, however, points out that the side effects are mild to moderate in severity and disappear within a few days. They tend to occur more frequently after the application of the first dose.

Dengue in Brazil

Transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, dengue caused 1,016 deaths in Brazil in 2022. Another 1.4 million probable cases were registered in the country last year – a 162% increase in the number of infections compared to 2021.

The dengue virus has four different serotypes. The main symptoms of the disease are high fever, pain in the body and joints, pain behind the eyes, malaise, lack of appetite, headache and red spots on the body. The severe form of the disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever, includes severe and continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, fluid accumulation, lethargy and mucosal bleeding.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is more common during a second infection.

The best method for dengue prevention is to reduce mosquito infestation, not leaving stagnant and accumulated water, which is usually used by Aedes as a breeding ground.