India has granted approval for QDENGA, a dengue vaccine manufactured in Japan, marking the country’s first authorised vaccine against dengue.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease reported across India and many other countries, has remained a major public health challenge despite multiple control measures by central and state governments. Until now, India did not have an approved dengue vaccine.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has cleared QDENGA, developed by Japan-headquartered Takeda, for use in people aged 4 to 60 years. The vaccine can be administered regardless of whether a person has had dengue earlier, without requiring prior testing.
As per the approved regimen, the vaccine is given as a 0.5 ml dose in two shots, administered through the skin, with a three-month gap between doses.
The report said the vaccine has met World Health Organization standards for quality, safety and efficacy, and has been recommended by the WHO. It is already in use in 43 countries across Asia, Latin America and Europe, with 3.2 doses administered globally, and has been included in national immunisation programmes in countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Indonesia and Brazil.
