Dengue has been a public health problem in several regions of Brazil for several years. And as with other diseases, the effective fight against this disease necessarily involves the development of vaccines.
In this context, a new vaccine against dengue, called 'Qdenga', was recently approved by Anvisa and promises to be a significant tool in this fight.
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The Brazilian Association of Vaccine Clinics (ABCVAC) announced that Qdenga, developed by Takeda Pharma Ltda., will arrive in Brazil next week.
The vaccine is made up of four different serotypes of the virus that causes dengue, thus providing broad protection against the disease.
This characteristic is particularly important, since dengue can be caused by different variants of the virus.
Initially, Qdenga will only be available in private laboratories. The price for the
consumer final price should vary between R$ 350 and R$ 500, depending on the state.In São Paulo, for example, the maximum price authorized by Anvisa is R$ 379.40. The final price includes not only the cost of the vaccine itself, but also care, screening, analysis of the vaccination booklet, pre- and post-vaccine guidance, and informational support for patients.
Qdenga is indicated for children from 4 years old, teenagers and adults up to 60 years old. This marks a significant expansion in the target audience compared to Dengvaxia, a previously approved vaccine that could only be used by those who had already contracted dengue.
The new vaccine is administered subcutaneously, in two doses, with an interval of three months between applications.
The vaccine showed an efficacy of 66.2% among individuals who had never had dengue and 76.1% among those who had already been infected with the virus.
These data were primarily supported by a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in dengue-endemic countries. The study evaluated the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of Qdenga.
The approval and availability of the Qdenga vaccine in Brazil represents a significant advance in the fight against dengue.
With its broad protection against different serotypes of the virus and the possibility of immunizing a wider public, it could be a fundamental piece for the reduction of dengue cases in the country.
