KUALA LUMPUR, August 26 — KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has launched Malaysia’s first dengue vaccine, the Qdenga live-attenuated dengue tetravalent vaccine by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda.
The dengue vaccination package by the private hospital costs RM400 for two doses that are given three months apart.
“All eligible persons beyond four years old should consider taking the dengue vaccine, which has been shown to reduce the risk of getting dengue and decreases the risk of hospitalisation by 84 per cent.
“There have been no major adverse effects with the dengue vaccine,” said consultant paediatrician Dr Musa Mohd Nordin at the August 24 “Merdeka from Dengue Deaths” launch event.
According to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) latest dengue report for the 33rd epidemiological week of the year (August 11-17), a cumulative total of 92,827 cases were reported until the 33rd epid week, marking a 22 per cent increase from 75,928 cases reported in the same period in 2023.
A total of 83 deaths from dengue fever complications were reported for this year until the 33rd epid week, marking a 54 per cent increase from 54 deaths reported in the same period last year.
“Dengue imposes an economic burden in Malaysia,” Dr Musa said.
“Vector control has achieved only limited success in reducing dengue transmission. A dengue vaccine should be considered as part of an integrated approach to dengue prevention and control.”
According to the KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital paediatrician, the cost of dengue illness was RM196 million annually in 2019, whereas the cost of dengue prevention and control in 2018 was RM260 million. The total cost of dengue is RM456 million every year.
Citing 2018 research, Dr Musa noted that half of hospitalised patients for dengue stayed for a prolonged period of more than three days.
There is currently no definitive curative treatment for dengue and no antiviral is available. Clinical management of dengue is mainly supportive. In addition, individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue that can be deadly.
Social & Economic Research Initiative (SERI) chairwoman Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also a former Lembah Pantai MP, highlighted the longstanding challenge of dengue in the country.
“Despite intensive efforts by the government, such as widespread mosquito control programmes and community engagement in eliminating breeding sites, Malaysia continues to grapple with a high burden of dengue fever cases.”
A woman named Sherin Tan, whose two children received the dengue vaccine, said at the KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital launch event that she knew of many people who suffered severely from dengue fever.
“With this vaccine, I hope no more children will have to endure the pain of dengue.”
