India's first dengue vaccine is here; it does not prevent mosquito bites

Dengue fever is one of the top public health concerns in India, and Kerala too regularly experiences all four dengue virus serotypes throughout the year. Now, we have reason to cheer as the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has permitted the production of QDENGA (TAK-003), the country's first dengue vaccine. It will be produced by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals and will offer protection against all four types of dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). It is already approved in more than 40 countries, including Argentina, Indonesia, Brazil, and the UK.

Who can have it and how
The vaccine has been approved for use in individuals aged between 4 and 60. The medicine will be administered in two doses, between three months. It will be given as a subcutaneous injection. Not everyone may have to take the vaccine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it should be introduced along with proper access to healthcare, early diagnosis, community awareness and mosquito control. Doctors say that the vaccine does not prevent mosquito bites. However, it can make the body immune to the virus and make it fight the illness.

What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever causes high temperatures and flu-like symptoms. If it turns into 'dengue hemorrhagic fever,' it can also cause bleeding, low blood pressure and eventual death. Bites from infected mosquitoes give rise to symptoms between four and 10 days after a bite. It can also cause upset stomach, vomiting, rash, headache, body pain, swollen glands and pain in the eye, according to the Mayo Clinic. Generally, people should get over the disease in two weeks. However, if the symptoms worsen, they can damage blood vessels and even cause them to leak.
'Takeda dengue vaccine' has more than 10K search volume on Google Trends in the past 14 hours.