In their weekly epidemiological record published on July 29th 2016, the World Health Organization published its first position paper on a Dengue Vaccine. The report is based on available evidence concerning CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia®, the only dengue vaccine to have been registered to date by National Regulatory Authorities (NRA).

Currently, Dengvaxia® is approved by the NRA in 6 countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Philippines. The WHO recommendation is that the vaccine should be introduced only in ‘geographic settings (national or subnational) where epidemiological data indicate a high burden of the disease’.

Until the introduction of this vaccine, the only way to control or prevent the transmission of the dengue virus was through vector control. Indeed, the paper goes on to underline that the introduction of this vaccine should form part of a comprehensive dengue control strategy. It states that this should include ‘well-executed and sustained vector control, evidence-based best practices for clinical care and strong dengue surveillance’.

The paper highlights the need for a targeted communication strategy at the time of vaccine introduction and a dengue surveillance system to detect and report hospitalized and severe dengue cases. On the latter point, it states: ‘Dengue surveillance should be strengthened, particularly in the context of emerging infections with clinical similarities to dengue and in areas of the world for which data are scarce or absent. Use of standardized case definitions is encouraged to enhance data sharing and comparability across regions.’

It is believed that dengue is substantially under-reported both within health systems and to WHO. The number of cases reported has increased from 0.4 to 1.3 million between 1996 and 2005. However, the global annual incidence, based on mathematical modelling, has been estimated at between 50 and 100 million symptomatic cases over the past few years mainly in Asia, followed by Latin America and Africa.

WHO Position Papers undergo review by WHO staff and are reviewed and endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). They provide information for, and are intended to be used by, national public health officials, managers of immunization programs and national dengue control programs.

Read the WHO Dengue vaccine position paper
Read the updated WHO fact sheet on dengue and severe dengue

"> In their weekly epidemiological record published on July 29th 2016, the World Health Organization published its first position paper on a Dengue Vaccine. The report is based on available evidence concerning CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia®, the only dengue vaccine to have been registered to date by National Regulatory Authorities (NRA).

Currently, Dengvaxia® is approved by the NRA in 6 countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Philippines. The WHO recommendation is that the vaccine should be introduced only in ‘geographic settings (national or subnational) where epidemiological data indicate a high burden of the disease’.

Until the introduction of this vaccine, the only way to control or prevent the transmission of the dengue virus was through vector control. Indeed, the paper goes on to underline that the introduction of this vaccine should form part of a comprehensive dengue control strategy. It states that this should include ‘well-executed and sustained vector control, evidence-based best practices for clinical care and strong dengue surveillance’.

The paper highlights the need for a targeted communication strategy at the time of vaccine introduction and a dengue surveillance system to detect and report hospitalized and severe dengue cases. On the latter point, it states: ‘Dengue surveillance should be strengthened, particularly in the context of emerging infections with clinical similarities to dengue and in areas of the world for which data are scarce or absent. Use of standardized case definitions is encouraged to enhance data sharing and comparability across regions.’

It is believed that dengue is substantially under-reported both within health systems and to WHO. The number of cases reported has increased from 0.4 to 1.3 million between 1996 and 2005. However, the global annual incidence, based on mathematical modelling, has been estimated at between 50 and 100 million symptomatic cases over the past few years mainly in Asia, followed by Latin America and Africa.

WHO Position Papers undergo review by WHO staff and are reviewed and endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). They provide information for, and are intended to be used by, national public health officials, managers of immunization programs and national dengue control programs.

Read the WHO Dengue vaccine position paper
Read the updated WHO fact sheet on dengue and severe dengue

" /> WHO Position Paper July 2016 Dengue Vaccine - Global Dengue & Aedes-Transmitted Diseases Consortium (GDAC)
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    WHO Position Paper July 2016 Dengue Vaccine

July 29, 2016 - Geneva, Switzerland

In their weekly epidemiological record published on July 29th 2016, the World Health Organization published its first position paper on a Dengue Vaccine. The report is based on available evidence concerning CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia®, the only dengue vaccine to have been registered to date by National Regulatory Authorities (NRA).

Currently, Dengvaxia® is approved by the NRA in 6 countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Philippines. The WHO recommendation is that the vaccine should be introduced only in ‘geographic settings (national or subnational) where epidemiological data indicate a high burden of the disease’.

Until the introduction of this vaccine, the only way to control or prevent the transmission of the dengue virus was through vector control. Indeed, the paper goes on to underline that the introduction of this vaccine should form part of a comprehensive dengue control strategy. It states that this should include ‘well-executed and sustained vector control, evidence-based best practices for clinical care and strong dengue surveillance’.

The paper highlights the need for a targeted communication strategy at the time of vaccine introduction and a dengue surveillance system to detect and report hospitalized and severe dengue cases. On the latter point, it states: ‘Dengue surveillance should be strengthened, particularly in the context of emerging infections with clinical similarities to dengue and in areas of the world for which data are scarce or absent. Use of standardized case definitions is encouraged to enhance data sharing and comparability across regions.’

It is believed that dengue is substantially under-reported both within health systems and to WHO. The number of cases reported has increased from 0.4 to 1.3 million between 1996 and 2005. However, the global annual incidence, based on mathematical modelling, has been estimated at between 50 and 100 million symptomatic cases over the past few years mainly in Asia, followed by Latin America and Africa.

WHO Position Papers undergo review by WHO staff and are reviewed and endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). They provide information for, and are intended to be used by, national public health officials, managers of immunization programs and national dengue control programs.

Read the WHO Dengue vaccine position paper
Read the updated WHO fact sheet on dengue and severe dengue