India approves first dengue vaccine for individuals aged 4 to 60 years

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted market authorisation to QDENGA (TAK-003), developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India, making it India’s first approved dengue vaccine.

• The vaccine has been approved for the prevention of dengue in individuals aged 4 to 60 years.
• QDENGA is a live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine designed to provide protection against all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4).
• It is administered as a two-dose regimen, with the second dose given three months after the first, through subcutaneous injection.
• The vaccine has already been approved in more than 40 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Indonesia and Argentina.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends its use in countries with a high burden of dengue transmission as part of a comprehensive dengue prevention and control strategy.

About Dengue

• Dengue is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV).
• It is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti.
• The disease is common in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, Skin rash.
  • In severe cases, dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.
• There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue; management mainly involves supportive care and pain management.

About Live-Attenuated Vaccines

• Live-attenuated vaccines contain a weakened form of the live pathogen that is capable of stimulating an immune response without causing disease in healthy individuals.
• They produce a strong and long-lasting immune response, often with only one or two doses.
• However, they may not be suitable for people with weakened immune systems and require cold-chain storage to maintain effectiveness.
• Examples of Live-Attenuated Vaccines

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine
• Yellow Fever vaccine
• Smallpox vaccine.

Sources: TH & WHO

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)