Brazil is a country that annually suffers from the exaggerated increase in cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease Aedes aegypti.Until recently, this disease had only mosquito control as a form of prevention, however, currently, there is a vaccine registered with the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
→ General characteristics of dengue
THE dengue it can occur asymptomatically or severely, and may even lead to death. Among the most common symptoms and signs of this disease, we can mention the sudden onset high fever, body aches, weakness, pain behind the eyes and skin blemishes. The severe form usually causes severe abdominal pain, bleeding, accumulations of fluid in the body, persistent vomiting, liver enlargement, and irritability.
As there are no specific medications for dengue, drug treatment is only done to reduce headaches and pain in the body. In addition to the drugs recommended for this purpose, It is essential to rest and consume plenty of fluids.
→ The first dengue vaccine
Although in several parts of Brazil there are reports of distribution of vaccines against dengue for many years, the first vaccine only received registration from Anvisa in December 2015. Initially, the vaccine was purchased only by hospital networks and private clinics, and the prices of each vaccine should be around R$132.76 to R$138.53. It is worth noting that clinics can charge for the application of the product, which causes vaccine prices to vary from one establishment to another.
The first vaccine marketed is called dengvaxia and is produced by the French laboratory Sanofi Pasteur. This product prevents the four existing dengue serotypes and is manufactured from an attenuated virus, that is, weaker and unable to trigger the disease.
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Dengvaxia should be given to patients aged 9 to 45 years. The vaccination schedule consists of three injections that should be given at six-month intervals. All three doses must be taken to ensure the product's effectiveness.
It is important to highlight that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against dengue. On average, two out of three people are actually immunized with the vaccine. Therefore, it is essential that protective measures against the mosquito continue to be carried out, preventing, for example, the proliferation of the Aedes because of stagnant water.
The vaccine can be taken by people who have had dengue or not, but it should not be taken by patients who have symptoms of the disease. Pregnant women should not take the vaccine, as well as people who are allergic to any active ingredient. Blood donation is temporarily prohibited, as the vaccine has attenuated virus. The recommendation is that the donation is made only after four weeks of vaccination.
As with any medicine or vaccine, Dengvaxia can also cause side effects. However, it is important to emphasize that it does not happen to all people. Among the most common effects, we can mention fever, headache, pain, swelling, redness and hematoma at the application site and malaise.
Curiosity: O Instituto Butantan is also creating a vaccine against dengue, however, it is still undergoing tests to confirm its effectiveness.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Dengue vaccine"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biologia/vacina-contra-dengue.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
