India Approves Its First Dengue Vaccine: QDENGA

General
, , , ,
1

For decades, dengue prevention in India has relied on mosquito control, early diagnosis, and supportive care.

That strategy has now entered a new phase.

On 21 July 2026, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation for QDENGA® (TAK-003), making it the first dengue vaccine approved for use in India.

Developed by Takeda, QDENGA is a live attenuated tetravalent vaccine based on the DENV-2 virus, which provides the genetic backbone for all four dengue virus serotypes. It is approved for individuals aged 4–60 years and is administered as two doses, three months apart. Unlike earlier dengue vaccines, QDENGA can be used regardless of prior dengue infection and does not require pre-vaccination serological testing.

The approval is supported by the pivotal Phase III TIDES randomised clinical trial, first published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019. The study demonstrated 61.2% vaccine efficacy (VE) against symptomatic dengue and 84.1% VE against dengue-related hospitalisation. The vaccine has since been approved in more than 40 countries, received WHO prequalification, and more than 24 million doses have been distributed globally. Post-marketing surveillance has demonstrated a favourable safety profile, with local injection-site reactions reported more frequently among vaccine recipients, consistent with the expected reactogenicity of live attenuated vaccines.

Importantly, this approval should not be viewed as a replacement for existing dengue control measures. Vaccination must complement vector control, surveillance, early diagnosis, and timely clinical management.

India carries a major dengue burden, and rising urbanisation, climate change, and expanding mosquito habitats continue to fuel transmission. QDENGA represents an important addition to India’s dengue prevention toolkit, but its public health impact will ultimately depend on how effectively it is integrated with vaccination policy, vector control, surveillance, and early clinical care.

Do think this is going to help us reduce the spreading of Dengue ?

MBH/PS

4 Likes
2

This is a significant step forward for dengue prevention in India.

While no vaccine can eliminate dengue on its own, combining vaccination with mosquito control, public awareness and early diagnosis could substantially reduce severe cases and hospitalizations.

1 Like
3

Thanks, Yashasvini. I completely agree, this vaccine is an important addition, but not a standalone solution. Its real impact will depend on how well it’s integrated into our National dengue control programme.

1 Like
4

Research studies should be conducted to determine the effectiveness & efficacy of the vaccine

1 Like
5

India, being a developing country demonstrates several regions prone to dengue infection and spread. Development of this vaccine would surely improve the management of dengue outbreak and preventing people from this serious illness. But it should be integrated well in government hospital vaccination programs to get maximum benefit.

1 Like
6

Informative post! I think this invention may not completely help in controlling its spread but can reduce the disease burden in a population.

1 Like
7

Excellent update! The approval of QDENGA marks an important step forward in dengue prevention and public health.

1 Like
8

This is definitely a significant step forward in dengue prevention. If the vaccine is made accessible and included as part of a broader public health strategy, it has the potential to reduce severe dengue cases and hospitalizations. That said, I don’t think vaccination alone will stop the spread. Mosquito control, public awareness, early diagnosis, and community participation will continue to play a crucial role. The best results will come from combining all these approaches rather than relying on a single solution.

1 Like
9

Rightly said Apurva. https://clinicaltrials.takeda.com/study-detail/6d91b0e82e6c410b this is a trial conducted by Takeda in Indian population with a small cohort. But Post-market surveillance is absolutely required.

10

Integration of the vaccine along with vector control will definitely improve dengue control in India. We had about 1.2 lakh people reported with dengue and about 130 deaths last year in India alone. And these are only the ones that were documented. DENGUE SITUATION IN INDIA :: National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC)

11

Great information. Thanks for sharing with us. I hope the dengue scenario in India will change after this vaccine.

1 Like
12

This is a significant step forward for dengue prevention. While no single intervention can eliminate dengue, adding an effective vaccine to existing measures like mosquito control, early diagnosis, and public awareness could substantially reduce severe disease and hospitalizations if implemented well.

1 Like
13

Thank you, Tama! I hope so too. The vaccine has shown promising results globally, and hopefully, we’ll see a similar impact in India.

1 Like
14

Thank you, Dr. Mandru! I agree. It may not be a complete solution, especially for vector control, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. The results so far have been encouraging, particularly the reported 84.1% efficacy against dengue-related hospitalisations.

1 Like
15

Thank you, Aaisha! Absolutely. It’s a significant milestone for dengue prevention, and I hope it complements our existing control measures.

16

Thank you, Sakshi! That’s a good point. The decline in dengue deaths over the past few years, from 485 in 2023 to 131 last year, suggests that existing public health measures are making a difference. Adding vaccination to that strategy could strengthen the overall response even further.

17

Absolutely Ankita. India’s dengue control programme has already shown encouraging progress in recent years. Adding vaccination could further strengthen those efforts.