3 weeks ago
India's first dengue vaccine Qdenga expected by first half 2027
Dengue is a sickness people get from mosquito bites, and it can make you very ill.
India is getting its first vaccine to help protect people from this sickness, and it is called Qdenga.
The vaccine is like a shield that teaches your body how to fight the dengue germs.
It is given as two little shots, with three months in between.
Healthy children and adults from 4 to 60 years old can get it, but pregnant women and people with weak immune systems should not.
Doctors say it is important to ask a doctor first before getting the vaccine.
The vaccine will probably be available in India in the first half of 2027, mostly through private clinics and hospitals.
Even after getting the vaccine, you must still protect yourself from mosquito bites, because the vaccine may not stop every case.
In 2024, more than 14 million people around the world got dengue, which shows why the vaccine is important.
India's first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, is expected to be available in the first half of 2027, likely through private healthcare settings.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation for Qdenga in India on July 21, 2026.
Qdenga is a live, attenuated tetravalent vaccine indicated for people aged 4 to 60 years, given as two subcutaneous doses three months apart.
The World Health Organization reported a record 14.4 million dengue cases and 11,201 deaths worldwide in 2024, including 232,425 cases and 233 deaths in India.
Experts say Qdenga can reduce disease severity and hospitalisations but is unlikely to prevent outbreaks while the mosquito vector continues to circulate.
- Who
- Takeda Pharmaceutical, which manufactures Qdenga; infectious diseases expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya; and India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which granted approval.
- What
- India's first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, has been approved and is expected to become available in 2027.
- Where
- India; Qdenga is already available in 42 countries including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
- When
- Expected availability is in the first half of 2027; CDSCO approval was announced on July 21, 2026.
- Why
- To prevent dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease that caused a record 14.4 million cases and 11,201 deaths worldwide in 2024.
Key facts
- Vaccine name
- Qdenga
- Manufacturer
- Takeda Pharmaceutical (manufactured by Takeda GmbH, Germany; imported by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd.)
- Expected availability in India
- First half of 2027, likely through private healthcare
- Regulatory status
- Marketing authorisation granted by CDSCO on July 21, 2026
- Age group
- 4 to 60 years
- Dosing schedule
- Two doses of 0.5 ml each, administered at 0 and 3 months
- Trial efficacy
- 80.2% against confirmed dengue cases one year after second dose; 90.4% against dengue-related hospitalisations after 18 months
- Global distribution
- More than 24 million doses distributed; available in 42 countries
Quotes
Dr Chandrakant Lahariya
Indian infectious diseases expert
“If your doctor advises vaccination, it is best to start before dengue season or before expected exposure.”
livemint.com
Divya KS
Infectious diseases specialist at Apollo Hospitals
“Qdenga can help reduce disease severity and hospitalisations, but it is unlikely to prevent outbreaks as long as the mosquito vector continues to circulate.”
livemint.com
Takeda representative
Company spokesperson for Takeda Pharmaceutical
“Takeda's long-term goal for our dengue program has been to make QDENGA broadly available to those at risk who may benefit from immunisation.”
livemint.com
Sources
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