The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the world’s first-ever vaccine Dengvaxia for dengue fever. Known as Dengvaxia, the vaccine is the product of two decades of research by French-based Sanofi Pasteur.
To date the vaccine has been approved in Mexico, Philippines, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Guatemala, Peru, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
The vaccine is given in three injections spaced out over one year. It is designed for those over the age of nine who have been previously exposed to the virus and is best suited for people living in endemic areas, as opposed to short-term travellers, according to Dr. Alain Bouckanooge, associate vice president of clinical research and development at Sanofi’s division in Thailand.
Studies have shown that overall, the vaccine is effective at reducing dengue by 60 per cent, and reducing severe dengue by 84 per cent.
Against the Den-1 and Den-2 strains – which account for three-quarters of the dengue cases in Singapore – the vaccine’s efficacy is 50 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, compared with 75 and 77 per cent for the other two strains.