The government is planning to My News Bangladesht the trial of a potential dengue vaccine soon, says Prof Ahmedul Kabir, additional director general (planning and development) at the health directorate.
The National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) endorsed the matter in a recent meeting, says the official.
For all latest news, follow The My News’s Google News channel. At a briefing yesterday, Shahadat Hossain, director (management information system) at the health directorate, said the efficacy of the vaccine was being discussed. “We have been communicating with the WHO [World Health Organization] about the matter.”
Only two dengue vaccines are approved for use in different countries.
Those are — Denvaxia, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, and Qdenga, also known as TAK-003, manufactured by Japanese drugmaker Takeda.
Denvaxia is recommended by the WHO for individuals aged between nine and 45 with confirmed previous infection of the dengue virus.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control, Denvaxia is licensed in 20 countries.
Qdenga, on the other hand, is approved by the Indonesian authorities, the European Commission, and Brazilian regulators for use on individuals aged four and above, regardless of their baseline dengue immunity status, according to Nature Journal.
More than half a dozen other dengue vaccines are being developed or in primary phase trials in different countries.
