2023-10-10 21:25:00
This summer, the WHO alerted European countries to possible dengue outbreaks, a situation that it expects to continue for the coming years. Gettyimages
To finish celebrating the great news of having a state-of-the-art vaccine against dengue available in Argentina – especially because summer is approaching, a seasonal time of peak infections and because it has spread to various areas of Argentine territory, joining the classic endemic areas of the NOA – a health policy needs to be defined from the State to establish prioritized groups that can receive the vaccine via the national and free schedule.
At the end of April, the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) approved the dengue vaccine from the Japanese laboratory Takeda, known as Qdenga. Now, from the biopharma they reported when it will arrive in Argentina and how much its cost will be.
This immunization is administered in 2 doses that must be applied separately, for an interval of 3 months. The inoculant protects against the 4 serotypes and can be received – with a medical prescription – by all people from 4 years of age, and up to any age, who have had (or not) the infection. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 500 million people in the Americas are currently at risk of contracting dengue. Being that “about half of the planet lives under this threat” that “causes 390 million infections and around 20,000 deaths worldwide each year.”
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, whose main vector is the ‘Aedes aegypti’ species.
Likewise, the WHO highlighted in a report issued during the first half of the year that “the total number of suspected and confirmed cases of arboviruses detected in the Region of the Americas during 2022 amounted to 3,123,752. Of these, 2,809,818 (90%) were dengue cases”, a figure that represents a “proportional increase of approximately 119% compared to 2021”. In Argentina, in 2023 alone “131,501 cases of dengue were registered in Argentina: 122,907 indigenous, 1,536 imported and 7,058 under investigation,” according to the latest National Epidemiological Bulletin.
From the laboratory they indicated to Infobae that this immunization will be available at the beginning of November in the country and that its distribution will be staggered, with a cost more than 37 thousand pesosalthough discounts may apply in some cases.
Dengue is a febrile illness that affects infants, children and adults, with symptoms ranging from a moderate fever to a disabling high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rashes, according to the WHO (Illustrative image Infobae)
Now, through a statement, the biopharma indicated that the vaccine “is close to being available so that those to whom their doctors prescribe it can apply it, presenting the corresponding prescription, in the main private vaccination centers in the country and then in pharmacies. ”. Being that the main study that allowed this endorsement “included the participation of more than 20 thousand volunteers over 5 years.” “As a result, an 84% reduction in dengue hospitalizations and a 61% decrease in symptomatic dengue cases was observed,” they explained.
In that sense, they detailed that it is approved for “the prevention of dengue caused by any of the four existing serotypes of the virus in people from 4 years of age with or without a history of dengue, without the need to perform confirmatory blood tests. prior to its application.”
In addition, they indicated that “the dengue vaccine will be available at the beginning of November in private vaccination centers and then in pharmacies.” Being that “the complete scheme includes two doses that must be applied separated by a minimum interval of 3 months.”
“The vaccine is composed of live attenuated viruses and was developed from dengue serotype 2, which forms the genetic basis to offer protection against the four serotypes, activating multiple arms of the immune system that contribute to protection against infection and disease. of dengue,” they detailed from Takeda and highlighted that “it should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature between 2° and 8° centigrade.”
Symptomatic and asymptomatic infected people of dengue are the main carriers and multipliers of the virus, and mosquitoes become infected by biting them EFE/EPA/WILL OLIVER/File
In the letter, they noted that “the vaccine will have a similar cost to other new or recent vaccines already available on the market in the private sector, and the current price is already published in the different pharmaceutical vademecums,” while clarifying that “it is “It is working with the different prepaid and social works to determine the possibility of offering discounts to its members, which can range from 40%, 60% or more.” As stated in alfabeta.netthe estimated price per dose is $37,514.
Dr. Eduardo López, pediatric infectious disease doctor, Head of the Department of Medicine at the ‘Ricardo Gutiérrez’ Children’s Hospital, referred to this vaccine and stated: “From the medical community we are optimistic about the possibility that it will soon be available in our country. country the dengue vaccine. Anyone who wants to protect themselves can talk to their doctor and – by presenting the corresponding prescription – access vaccination at private vaccination centers and, soon, at pharmacies themselves.”
“We must keep in mind that the 2023 dengue outbreak caused more than 130,000 cases, affecting all ages and large cities in Argentina; In fact, dengue has become urbanized: it no longer only affects areas of northern Argentina, but the Aedes mosquito that transmits the disease is in large cities. Furthermore, the vaccine is a very important contribution to the strategy of preventing the disease and reducing its intensity. Let us remember that two doses are always necessary for adequate immunity,” he concluded.
Hanna Nohynek, the Finnish-born scientist who chairs the group that advises the WHO on immunization issues, assured that “the vaccine demonstrated its effectiveness in tests carried out among patients aged 4 to 16 years in Asia and Latin America.”
For his part, Dr. Pablo Bonvehí, infectious disease doctor, Head of Infectology at the CEMIC University Hospital, highlighted that “the vaccine constitutes a strategic tool to protect us against dengue, but it is very important to keep in mind that protection, according to observed in clinical studies, it is reached after the second dose, and of course, in addition to vaccination, measures to prevent the proliferation of the mosquito vector should not be stopped. These include removing debris, preventing the accumulation of stagnant water and also those aimed at avoiding their bites, such as having mosquito nets in the workplace and at home and the use of repellents and clothing that protects the body.
It is worth noting that this immunization “is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women and in immunosuppressed individuals. Its most common adverse effects, although sporadic, are pain and redness at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, general malaise and weakness. In very rare cases, fever may occur.”
“All these effects were temporary and subsided without problems and are closely related to the mechanism of action of the vaccine,” the laboratory highlighted. And they highlighted that immunization “has already been approved, in addition to Argentina, by the European Union, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand, among others.”
Following a recommendation from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), the WHO noted that “dengue carries a significant public health burden in countries where it is endemic and, due to climate change and urbanization, is expected to “This continues to increase.” “Therefore, it recommends using Takeda’s dengue vaccine in places with a high dengue burden and high transmission intensity, in order to achieve maximum impact on public health,” they said in a statement.
“The safety and effectiveness of the tetravalent dengue vaccine from the Takeda laboratory are supported by 5 years of a clinical study called TIDES, which included more than 20 thousand volunteers and demonstrated excellent results. Five dengue-endemic countries in Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Panama) and 3 in Asia (Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines) participated in the trial. As main conclusions, the application of 2 doses of the vaccine showed an 84% reduction in hospitalizations due to dengue and a 61% decrease in cases of symptomatic dengue,” the biopharma highlighted.
The truth is that dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, whose main vector is the ‘Aedes aegypti’ species. “Currently, it constitutes a major threat to global public health, with risk of infection in more than 125 countries, including many in Latin America. Severe dengue has become one of the main causes of hospitalization and death among children and adults in some countries in the region,” they said.
It is worth highlighting that among the main symptoms that could allow one to suspect the presence of a dengue infection – and warrant prompt consultation with the medical guard – are acute and non-specific febrile symptoms, intense headache, pain behind the eyes, pain muscle and joints and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting; Sometimes skin rashes may also appear.
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