India has approved India First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA, making it the country's first licensed vaccine for dengue prevention. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted approval to Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India's QDENGA under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019. The vaccine can be given to people aged 4 to 60 years and protects against all four dengue virus types without requiring a dengue test before vaccination. The approval is a major step to reduce dengue infections across India.Key HighlightsDCGI approves India First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA.Vaccine is for people aged 4 to 60 years.Protects against all four dengue virus serotypes.Two-dose schedule with doses given three months apart.Related Instagram Post: India Approves First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA for PeopleWhat Is QDENGA and How Does It Work?The QDENGA vaccine India is developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda. It is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine, meaning it uses a weakened form of the virus to help the body's immune system build protection.The vaccine works against all four dengue serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). This is important because a person can get dengue more than once from different virus types.QDENGA is given as two injections of 0.5 mL, with the second dose administered three months after the first. It can be used even if a person has never had dengue before.Why Is This Approval Important for India?The dengue vaccine approval comes at a time when India continues to face a high number of dengue cases every year. Health experts estimate that India accounts for nearly one-third of the world's dengue burden.According to available data, more than 113,000 dengue cases were officially reported in 2025, although experts believe the actual number of infections may be much higher.There is currently no specific medicine to cure dengue, making prevention the best way to reduce serious illness and hospitalisation."This approval marks an important step forward in strengthening dengue prevention in India," said Dr. Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets at Takeda.Global Approval, Clinical Trials and LaunchThe Takeda QDENGA vaccine was first launched globally in 2022. It has now been approved in 43 countries across Asia, Europe, and Latin America, with more than 32 million doses distributed worldwide.The vaccine is also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in dengue-endemic areas and has received WHO prequalification for quality, safety, and effectiveness.The approval in India is based on 19 Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials involving over 28,000 participants, including Indian volunteers. Studies showed 80.2% effectiveness against confirmed dengue one year after vaccination and 84.1% protection against dengue-related hospitalisation after 4.5 years.The India First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA is expected to strengthen dengue prevention India efforts and help protect millions of people from this mosquito-borne disease in the coming years.
