Dengue vaccine Qdenga available in Australia for the first time

A vaccine for dengue fever has been made available in Australia for the first time, as holiday destinations popular with Australians experience spikes in virus cases. General practitioners can now order the vaccine, known as Qdenga, following new guidance from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The advisory body strongly urges travelers particularly those with a history of the disease to receive the jab.

According to ATAGI guidelines, vaccination with Qdenga can also be considered for individuals aged four years and older who have no prior history of dengue and are planning short-term travel, pending an individual risk benefit assessment.

Global health metrics note that the dengue virus is the fastest-growing communicable disease worldwide, responsible for an estimated 100 million symptomatic cases annually. In Australia, virtually all notified diagnoses are acquired overseas by travelers returning from endemic nations. Five of the top 10 most visited destinations for Australian travellers: Indonesia, Thailand, India, Vietnam and Fiji are classified as having frequent or continuous dengue transmission. (Newswire)

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