COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Medicines Regulatory Authority has appointed an expert committee to decide whether the Qdenga dengue vaccine, manufactured in Japan, is suitable for use in the country. Its Chairman, Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, stated that an application has been received for its registration here.The Drugs Controller General of India approved the Qdenga dengue vaccine yesterday. It is the first dengue vaccine approved by India.The vaccine is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals India, a subsidiary of Japan's Takeda. The vaccine is administered subcutaneously (under the skin), and two doses of 0.5 milliliters each must be given in a prescribed sequence.Indian media reported that the second dose should be given three months after the first dose. The Qdenga dengue vaccine is recommended for use in age groups ranging from 4 to 60 years. Production of the Qdenga vaccine began in 2022 with the approval of the World Health Organization.The number of countries that have approved it is 43. Accordingly, manufacturers stated that over 32 million vaccine doses have been distributed worldwide so far.Meanwhile, the country's dengue death toll has risen to 58.Dr. Kapila Kannangara, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit of the Ministry of Health, stated that 721 dengue patients were reported yesterday.The number of dengue patients reported so far this year is 76,044.The highest number of patients continue to be reported from the Gampaha, Colombo, Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Kegalle districts.
