Qdenga not included in National Immunisation Programme

Qdenga vaccine may be available to the public but it is not included in the National Immunisation Programme due to high cost, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“The NPRA has given conditional registration to the dengue vaccine manufactured by Takeda (Takeda Pharmaceutical) and it is already available in the private sector for the public.

“The issue is when we can include it in the National Immunisation Programme. It will take a long time to do so as we need to take into account the budget allocation (for the vaccines),” he said, reported The Star.

The Qdenga vaccine offers protection against dengue disease.

Dzulkefly spoke of the vaccine at Rumah Keluarga Angkatan Tentera (RKAT) here yesterday after launching the national-level Program Gotong Royong Mega Perangi Aedes 1.0 in conjunction with the Asean Dengue Day 2024.

He said that the vaccine received conditional approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) in February.

The 393rd Drug Control Authority meeting, held on February 8, granted conditional registration for the Qdenga dengue vaccine, designed to prevent dengue fever in individuals aged four and older.