After 20 years of research, a vaccine
to prevent dengue is now available for people in countries across the world.
The first-ever dengue vaccine manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical
company Sanofi Pasteur can be used by people aged between 9 and 16 years old.
Research for the development of the dengue vaccine was conducted in 15
countries, including Indonesia.
Pediatrician Sri Rezeki Hadinegoro, a
dengue vaccine research team member in Indonesia, said around 1,800 school-aged
children from Bandung in West Java, Denpasar in Bali and Jakarta participated
in the research.
She said research on the efficacy of the
vaccine had been carried out since 2011 in 15 countries, from Asia-Pacific
countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam,
to Latin America.
“The research has now entered the third
phase. To know the efficacy of the vaccine, there will be a comparison study
between a group of dengue vaccine recipients and another group with
non-vaccinated respondents. The research is being conducted over five years and
will be completed in September 2017,” Sri said as quoted by kompas.com,
during the launch of the vaccine on Tuesday.
Although the research had not yet been
completed, she said, the use of the vaccine had showed significant results.
“In the 9 to 16 age group, the results of
the vaccine use were quite consistent. It could reduce infections by 65
percent, dengue-related in-patient treatment at hospitals by 80 percent and
serious dengue cases by 92 percent,” said Sri.
Sanofi Pasteur general manager Joko
Murdianto said the vaccine had been distributed across Indonesia since
September.
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