04 October 2016•Update: 07 October 2016
By Kirsten Han
SINGAPORE
Authorities in Singapore have approved use of the world's first dengue vaccine, allowing the city-state to tackle a mosquito-borne disease estimated to globally infect 390 million people each year.
Dengvaxia was approved by the Health Sciences Authority on Tuesday following a seven-month review into its potential benefits and risks, and will be made commercially available in several months' time.
It is approved for use by individuals between the ages 12-45 years old, as studies showed inconsistent risk reduction of hospitalised dengue in the nine to 11 age group, while there was insufficient evidence on the safety and efficacy of Dengvaxia on those above 45.
However, the Authority indicated that it is prepared to review the approved age range once more clinical data is available.
According to major clinical studies involving individuals between the ages of two and 16, Dengvaxia is effective in reducing dengue illness by 60 per cent, and severe dengue illness by 84 per cent.
It was also found to be much less effective on the two strains of dengue that are most common in Singapore.
Authorities have also advised individuals who have never been infected with dengue to discuss with their doctors whether the vaccine is advisable for them, as Dengvaxia is 81 per cent effective for those who have had prior exposure to dengue, but only 38 per cent effective for those without previous dengue infection.
Dengue -- which causes flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue -- has long been an issue on the small tropical island nation.
According to information from the National Environment Agency, there are currently six high risk areas in the country where 10 or more cases of dengue have been logged.
In the first 39 weeks of 2016, 12,034 cases of dengue were reported in Singapore.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific and infects around 390 million people yearly.
The Americas, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected.
Dengvaxia is currently approved for use in 10 other countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico.
