India gets its first dengue vaccine: Should you take it? Doctor explains

India’s approval of its first dengue vaccine marks a significant milestone in the country’s fight against one of its fastest-growing mosquito-borne diseases.

With the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granting approval to QDENGA (TAK-003), developed by Takeda, the country now has a preventive tool against a virus that leads to thousands of hospitalisations every monsoon season.

The vaccine is licensed for individuals aged 4 to 60 years and does not require prior evidence of dengue infection. It is administered in two doses, spaced three months apart.

A major advance - but not a magic bullet

Dr Aparna Chakravarty, Senior Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, describes the development as promising but urges caution.

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“As a paediatric infectious disease specialist, I see this as an important advance - but not a magic bullet.”

She highlights a key challenge in dengue prevention: the virus exists in four distinct serotypes.

“One of the biggest problems with dengue is that there are four different varieties of the virus. If you get infected with one type, you only get long-lasting protection for that strain. Sometimes infection with a different strain can cause a more severe illness because of an immune phenomenon called antibody-dependent enhancement.”

Because of this, she explains, any effective vaccine must provide balanced protection across all four serotypes.

How effective is the vaccine?

Clinical trials involving more than 20,000 participants in dengue-endemic countries have shown encouraging results.

“Promising results have been obtained in clinical trials… QDENGA showed about 80% protection against laboratory-confirmed dengue requiring hospitalisation and more than 90% protection against dengue-related hospitalisations in early follow-up," says Dr Chakravarty.

However, the doctor stresses that the vaccine’s primary benefit lies in reducing severe disease rather than eliminating infection altogether.

“The greatest public health benefit of the vaccine will be in reducing serious illness, not in eradicating all infection.”

Who should take it?

The vaccine is approved for:

It is expected to become available in private healthcare facilities following its commercial rollout, although pricing in India has not yet been officially announced.

Dr Chakravarty advises families to rely on medical guidance rather than speculation. "Families should follow the advice of their treating physician and not speculation," she states.

What parents must understand

One of the most important messages for parents is that vaccination does not replace preventive measures.

“Parents need to realise that vaccination is not a substitute for mosquito control.”

She emphasises that everyday precautions remain essential: “Vaccination does not mean children and adults should stop using mosquito repellents, wearing full-sleeved clothing, using window screens and eliminating stagnant water around their homes.”

No vaccine offers complete protection, and dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes continue to circulate in communities.

Why this matters for India

India records lakhs of dengue cases every year, with rising temperatures, rapid urbanisation and expanding mosquito habitats contributing to increased transmission.

A safe and effective vaccine could:

Despite the breakthrough, experts stress that vaccination alone will not solve the dengue problem.

“The message is simple: Dengue vaccine is a major scientific breakthrough, but it works best when combined with early detection, prompt medical attention, and ongoing mosquito control," mentions the expert.

Ultimately, it is this integrated strategy - not vaccination in isolation - that will help India meaningfully reduce its dengue burden.