Your days of fearing dengue may soon be over, as the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has just approved the world’s first dengue vaccine for use in Singapore. After seven months of reviewing Dengvaxia and weighing its potential benefits and risks, HSA said the vaccine will become commercially available in a few months’ time.
The vaccine, developed by Sanofi Pasteur, comes in the form of three doses that have to be injected over a period of 12 months. Its effects will last for up to four years after the third injection, according to Channel NewsAsia. In general, studies show that Dengvaxia has been effective at reducing dengue by 60 percent, and severe dengue by 84 percent.
As the first vaccine to combat all four strains of dengue, Dengvaxia is approved for use for people aged between 12 and 45, but has shown to be less effective against the Den-1 and Den-2 strains — which make up three-quarters of dengue cases in Singapore — compared to the other two.
Nine other countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Thailand and the Philippines, have also approved it for use since its launch in late 2015.
According to the Ministry of Health, the dengue vaccine won’t be rolled out as a national programme, and hence there won’t be any subsidies or Medisave usage for vaccine users. So if you’re keen on being vaccinated, consult your doctors on the benefits and risks before taking the step.
