A brand new vaccine for dengue obtained prequalification from the World Well being Group (WHO) on 10 Might 2024. TAK-003 is the second dengue vaccine to be prequalified by WHO. Developed by Takeda, it’s a live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened variations of the 4 serotypes of the virus that trigger dengue. WHO recommends using TAK-003 in youngsters aged 6–16 years in settings with excessive dengue burden and transmission depth. The vaccine ought to be administered in a 2-dose schedule with a 3-month interval between doses. “The prequalification of TAK-003 is a crucial step within the enlargement of world entry to dengue vaccines, as it’s now eligible for procurement by UN businesses together with UNICEF and PAHO,” mentioned Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification. “With solely two dengue vaccines thus far prequalified, we stay up for extra vaccine builders coming ahead for evaluation, in order that we will guarantee vaccines attain all communities who want it.”The WHO prequalification listing additionally consists of CYD-TDV vaccine in opposition to dengue developed by Sanofi Pasteur. Dengue is a vector-borne illness transmitted by the chunk of an contaminated mosquito. Extreme dengue is a doubtlessly deadly complication which may develop from dengue infections. It’s estimated that there are over 100-400 million instances of dengue worldwide annually and three.8 billion individuals residing in dengue endemic international locations, most of that are in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The biggest variety of dengue instances reported was in 2023 with the WHO Area of the Americas reporting 4.5 million instances and 2300 deaths. Dengue instances are more likely to improve and increase geographically as a consequence of local weather change and urbanization.