Malaysia Approves & Launches Country's First Dengue Vaccine
The vaccine is approved for use in individuals aged four and above, and requires two doses to be administered three months apart.
A vaccine for the dengue virus has been approved for use in Malaysia and it just had its official launch yesterday, 11 June
In a press release, pharmaceutical company Takeda Malaysia said its live attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine, Qdenga, was approved by Malaysia's Drug Control Authority (DCA) this year based on extensive data demonstrating its efficacy, safety, and quality.
The vaccine, designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes, has been approved for use in individuals aged four and above, and requires two doses to be administered three months apart.
Qdenga is also approved for use regardless of prior dengue infection.
Takeda launched its dengue vaccine in Malaysia at One World Hotel on 11 June.
Image via Focus Malaysia
Qdenga is the first available vaccine for dengue in the country.
It is currently approved for use in more than 30 other countries, including the EU, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Clinical trials showed that Qdenga successfully prevented 80.2% of symptomatic dengue cases 12 months after vaccination.
It also successfully prevented 90.4% of hospitalisation of dengue cases 18 months after vaccination.
Clinical trials showed that the vaccine is also effective for up to four and a half years after vaccination, with its efficacy still at 84.1% against hospitalisation and 61.2% against symptomatic cases.
"Effective dengue prevention requires a multi-faceted approach. The availability of Qdenga is a crucial addition to the current integrated dengue prevention and management strategies in Malaysia," said Takeda Malaysia & Singapore country general manager Dr Lynette Moey at the launch yesterday.
"We are committed to partnering with local health authorities and health experts to ensure Qdenga is accessible to all eligible Malaysians who may benefit from immunisation.
"We deeply understand the importance of safeguarding our communities from dengue fever and recognise the transformative impact vaccines can have on public health," she added.
In Malaysia, dengue cases have increased significantly, with 123,133 cases reported in 2023, marking an 86.3% increase compared to the previous year
Dengue-related deaths also increased by 78.6%, with the highest concentration of cases in Selangor.
"Dengue weighs heavily on us as a nation, and despite intensive efforts to mitigate its impact, cases continue to climb, along with the cost of vector control, productivity loss, and consumption of healthcare resources," said Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia chairman, consultant paediatrician Professor Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail."To effectively fight dengue, we need everyone on board. This means bringing together the government, private sector, academic institutions, and community in a unified effort to combat the threat.
"Vaccination will be an additional armamentarium that will complement the current efforts in controlling the disease," he added.
Takeda Malaysia announced that the vaccine is now available in most private hospitals and clinics across the country
However, the company did not disclose the vaccine's pricing.
The country general manager, Dr Moey, told The Star that each healthcare facility would determine the price of the vaccine.
A quick search on the digital healthcare platform DoctorOnCall shows that the two-dose dengue vaccine currently costs about RM550.
Research has shown that mosquitoes have preferences when biting people:
Read more recent news on SAYS:
Leave a comment