The risk of many types of mosquito-borne diseases increases significantly during the rainy season. Every year a large number of people need to be hospitalized due to diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria, in serious situations these diseases can also be fatal. However, now there is no need to be afraid of dengue too much. Probably by the year 2025, a vaccine will be available in the country to prevent dengue.
A top official of the Union Health Ministry said that in a high-level meeting held last week regarding dengue infection, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that the testing of the dengue vaccine is in the final stage. It may be available to the general public by next year.
It is worth noting that many states of the country are in the grip of dengue these days. Its risk is being seen more in Maharashtra. Dengue cases are breaking records here till July this year itself. Compared to last year, this time in the first seven months of the year, there has been a jump of up to 83 percent in dengue cases in the state.
While 3,164 cases were reported in Maharashtra between January and July 2023, 5,776 cases have been registered in the first seven months of this year, which is almost double. Health experts have advised all people to be cautious about the threat of mosquito-borne disease.
Vaccine trials are going on in India
Dengue puts a lot of pressure on the health sector every year. However, experts hope that after the vaccine is available, its risk can be reduced to a great extent.
According to the information, four pharma companies of the country are engaged in clinical trials of the vaccine. Recently, Serum Institute of India (SII) submitted documents to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and said that the first test has been done on 60 people, in which the level of antibodies in people has been seen in sufficient quantity for six months. After this result, permission has been given for the next phase of trial.
Vaccines are already being given in European countries
It is important to know here that dengue vaccines are already being given in many countries of Europe. The only vaccine approved to prevent dengue in Italy and many European countries is Qudenga (TAK-003), whose efficacy is said to be more than 50%.
According to the study report published in the journal Vaccines, the first global meta-analysis of dengue vaccines confirms that these vaccines are effective and safe. Researchers from the University of Bologna and the University of Ferrara in Italy have confirmed this.
What do the researchers say?
This is the first comprehensive global analysis and we are very pleased with the data, says Lamberto Manzoli, professor and director at the University of Bologna. Currently, there is no effective treatment against this disease and every year a large number of people die worldwide due to this disease. Approved in Europe in December 2022, the vaccine TAK-003 has shown very promising results.
Overall, studies conducted on more than 20,000 people involved in various trials show that these vaccines can reduce the risk of infection by up to 50%.
Antibodies last for a long time
The report shows that more than 90% of those who were given two doses of the vaccine developed better antibodies against dengue. At the same time, the response was very positive even in those who were given only one dose. More than 70% of adults and more than 90% of children and adolescents developed antibodies after the vaccine. Vaccination is being considered a better weapon in the fight against dengue.
(PC: ISTOCK)
