In the midst of a surge in dengue cases in Karnataka, the state health department is considering reaching out to the Centre for more clarity on dengue vaccines. While there is currently no approved vaccine for dengue in the country, the state health department is open to exploring the possibility of seeking approval for a vaccine.
State health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has instructed officials to investigate existing vaccines in other countries and assess their viability in Karnataka. This information will be compiled into a report that may be submitted to the Centre as a recommendation for a dengue vaccine.
Meanwhile, Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda has developed a tetravalent dengue vaccine called Qdenga, which has received prequalification from the World Health Organisation. Indian Immunologicals Limited is also working on a dengue vaccine, with plans to launch it in 2026 after completing their initial trials.
For now, Karnataka will concentrate on preventive measures like increased surveillance and destroying larvae at the source to control dengue outbreak.
Published 08 July 2024, 17:00 IST