New vaccine against dengue arrives in Brazil and can cost up to R$600 in private clinics

A new vaccine against dengue, the vaccine QDENGA, arrives in Brazil this week and will start to be applied only in private clinics at this first moment. The value of the doses will be between R$350 and R$600 reais, depending on the tax rates, ICMS, of each state of the federation.

This immunizer is developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda and was already approved by ANVISA in March of this year. In its final report, the Brazilian agency states that the dose “Provides broad protection against dengue” and indicates that the vaccine is for the public between four and sixty years of age. Its leaflet also states that it is also indicated for those who have never had contact with the disease.

The previously approved vaccine did not cover all audiences, as it was a priority for those who had already had contact with the virus at some point in their lives. Due to this restriction, and the price, this immunizer was little sought after in clinics.

QDENGA has the vaccine schedule proposed in two stages. The difference between the first and second doses must be at least three months apart. With the indicated value, whoever is immunized will have to spend between R$700 and R$1200 reais.

The Ministry of Health will not buy doses at this first moment, so they will not be available in the SUS. The Ministry’s allegation is that, in order to be offered free of charge in the Unified Health System, it is necessary that a committee of the body, that of new technologies, the Conitecstudy and approve its incorporation.

There is a prediction within the Ministry of Health that, as of the second half of 2024, it will already be approved and incorporated into the SUS vaccination schedule, being made available free of charge to the entire population.

Effectiveness Rate

QDENGA has an effectiveness rate of 76.1% in people who have already had the disease and with those never got infected with the dengue virus, this same rate is 66.2%.

The immunizer has a protection period of twelve months after the application of the second dose.

The study

For four years the study had more than twenty thousand volunteers in Japan. Therefore, it is considered a robust study, with proven validity.

The year 2023 in Brazil shows the worst numbers regarding the incidence of the disease so far. There was an increase of 22% compared to the previous year, 2022, in the same period, which encompasses the months of January to June. So far there are six hundred and forty-three confirmed deaths and there are still four hundred and forty under investigation.

Featured photo: Dengue vaccine starting this week will be in private laboratories. Reproduction/Freepik