2010-12-02 16:51 
International experts
develop a road map for the implementation of dengue vaccination
programmes for the control of dengue fever
SINGAPORE, Dec. 2, 2010
/PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Dengue v2V, a group of international public
health experts in dengue and immunisation programmes, held its
first regional workshop in Singapore from 30 November to 2 December
2010 to discuss the pathway for supportive public health policy for
the introduction of a dengue vaccine in the Asia-Pacific region.
The workshop examined aspects of the burden of dengue and the
potential obstacles to vaccine introduction, providing
considerations for constructing a road map for the implementation
of dengue vaccination programmes as soon as a vaccine is
available.
Dengue is a major public health
concern throughout the Asia-Pacific region with over 2 billion
people at risk, a recent dramatic rise in the number of cases, and
no specific treatments currently available. There are several
dengue vaccines in development, one being in final stage of
clinical development (Phase 3).(1),(2)
"A dengue vaccine is widely anticipated to be the cornerstone of
controlling dengue in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet, vaccination
programmes are complex to implement and it is critical that we
anticipate the challenges ahead of us," said Professor Sai Kit Lam
from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, and Chairman of the
Dengue v2V initiative. "We call on the immunisation community,
public and private sector to prepare to initiate dengue
immunisation programmes as soon as a vaccine is licensed."
Road map to dengue
vaccination
The Dengue v2V workshop in Singapore looked at the evidence,
potential vaccination strategies and tools that need to be in place
for guiding the introduction of a dengue vaccine (once
available).
The main steps in the path from
dengue vaccine to vaccination include:
Experts, policymakers and public
health officials from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Australia, France and the USA drew
on their experiences with dengue and their national immunisation
programmes to propose solutions to dengue vaccine introduction.
About dengue
fever
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue
virus, of which there are four serotypes. The disease is found
throughout equatorial regions and is a potential threat to almost
half of the world's population. Of the estimated 220 million people
infected with dengue annually, two million, mostly children,
develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a severe form of the
disease and 21,000 will die.(3) DHF is also a leading cause of
hospitalisation, placing tremendous pressure on strained medical
resources and having a heavy economic and societal impact. Many
factors have contributed to a recent dramatic rise in dengue fever
cases including urbanisation and increased travel.
About the Dengue v2V
initiative
Dengue v2V is a scientific forum committed to ensuring that future
dengue vaccines, once licensed, are readily introduced into the
vaccination programmes of countries where dengue is a public health
priority. The name, Dengue v2V, reflects its fundamental objective
of supporting the transition from vaccine to vaccination. Dengue
v2V was established in June 2009 and is supported by an
unrestricted educational grant from sanofi pasteur.(4)
For more information on dengue and
Dengue v2V please email [email protected]
SOURCE Dengue v2V