21/07/2026
: QDENGA â Indiaâs First Dengue Vaccine (one more weapon in our hand to prevent complicated dengue cases)
To strengthen prevention, Indiaâs drug regulator has approved QDENGA, the countryâs first dengue vaccine.
Hereâs what you need to know:
Origin and Details
QDENGA, also called TAK-003, is a tetravalent live-attenuated vaccine developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda. It is designed to protect against all 4 dengue virus serotypes DENV-1 to DENV-4.
Unlike older dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require a blood test to check prior infection. It can be given to people regardless of whether they have had dengue before.
It has already been approved in 43 countries and WHO recommends it for use in dengue-endemic settings. In India, Takeda has partnered with Hyderabad-based Biological E for local manufacturing under Make in India.
Who can take it
Age: 4 to 60 years
Recommended for both children and adults in dengue-endemic areas
Dosage
2 doses of 0.5 ml each
Given as a subcutaneous injection under the skin
Gap: 3 months between dose 1 and dose 2
Efficacy
Based on global trials with over 28,000 participants:
80.2 percent efficacy against confirmed dengue one year after the second dose
90.4 percent efficacy against dengue-related hospitalisation after 18 months
84.1 percent efficacy against hospitalisation over 4.5 years
Follow-up data shows sustained protection for up to 7 years. Protection against hospitalisation remains high for both people with and without prior dengue exposure.
Impact
QDENGA is a disease-modifying vaccine. It reduces the risk of symptomatic dengue and severe disease requiring hospitalisation. Experts say vaccination should complement, not replace mosquito control, surveillance and community awareness.
Availability in the Indian Market
Approved by DCGI in July 2026.
Local manufacturing by Biological E is planned to ensure faster and uninterrupted supply, with a target of up to 50 million doses per year.
Launch is expected in both private and public sectors. Priority groups likely include children, adolescents, and people in high-burden urban and semi-urban areas.
Cost to Patient
Official pricing for India has not been announced yet.
Takeda has stated it will follow a tiered pricing model for public and private markets to improve access.
In other Asian markets the price ranges about $80 to $115 per dose. Estimates for a full 2-dose course in India are between Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000, but local production is expected to help make it more affordable.
Exact cost and government procurement plans will be confirmed at launch.
"Since its launch in 2022, QDENGA has been approved in 43 countries, with more than 32 million doses distributed globally. This approval marks an important step forward in strengthening dengue prevention in India," said Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets at Takeda.
The company said long-term data collected over seven years showed that the vaccine continues to protect against dengue infection and hospitalisation caused by all four dengue virus serotypes.
The Indian approval is based on findings from Takeda's global clinical development programme, which included 19 Phase I, II and III clinical trials involving more than 28,000 participants in countries where dengue is common as well as regions where it is not.
The decision was also supported by results from the Phase III DEN-302 clinical trial conducted in India, which assessed the vaccine's safety and immune response in people between 4 and 60 years of age.
"QDENGA is designed to protect against all four serotypes, regardless of prior exposure. Its approval represents an important step in strengthening India's comprehensive approach to dengue prevention, alongside vector control, surveillance, community awareness and other public health measures," said Goh Choo Beng, Medical Affairs Head for Takeda's Southeast Asia and India Cluster.
The company added that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends QDENGA for use in dengue-endemic regions and supports its inclusion in public immunisation programmes in high-transmission areas without requiring pre-vaccination screening.
QDENGA has also received WHO prequalification, confirming that it meets international standards for quality, safety and effectiveness. This also makes the vaccine eligible for procurement by global agencies such as UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-rajiv-kumar-jain-568a0910_india-approves-its-first-dengue-vaccine-qdenga-activity-7484925686839791616-RdTj
Remember: Vaccines help, but prevention still depends on stopping mosquito breeding, using repellents, nets, and keeping surroundings clean.đ
India approves its first dengue vaccine QDENGA after DCGI clearance India has approved its first dengue vaccine, with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granting market authorisation to vaccine QDENGA, developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India. The vaccine is approved for people aged 4 t...
