Tag Archives: dengue vaccine

Dengue Vaccine in 2015

Leave a reply

dengue vaccine editorial cartoon

THE Department of Health has announced that dengue vaccine will be available in the market next year.

The vaccine, which has been tested two years ago, in five different Asian countries including the Philippines, showed a promising result.

At least, 3,500 children, 2 to 4 years old, from Cebu and San Pablo participated in the study trial of the vaccine.

Health experts said that three doses of the vaccine are needed to reduce the risk of hospitalization due to dengue fever.

The vaccine should cover all four dengue strains (Type 1, 2, 3, 4). One type could give you a life-long protection against the same strain, but not from the other remaining three. This means that a person could get all four types of the dengue virus in his lifetime.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona is optimistic that the government will be able to eliminate dengue as a major public health threat.

Dengue has been considered a plague by experts for the past 10 years.

This year alone, the DOH has recorded a total of 31,088 dengue cases.

Image credit: People’s Tonight Editorial Cartoon

Dengue vaccine and Tawa-tawa herb

3 Replies

Are part of the potential strategies of the Department of Health to fight dengue.

The vaccine, according to a DOH statement, should cover all four dengue strains (Type 1, 2, 3, 4). One type could give you a life-long protection against the same strain, but not from the other remaining three. This means that a person could get all four types of the dengue virus in his lifetime.

Experts are also studying if genetic modification of the Aedes mosquito, the species responsible for the spread of dengue cases, will render it less active in biting unsuspecting victims.

At the same time, they are not discounting the possibility of “Tawa-tawa”, a local herb, to cure or improve the condition of dengue patient. The boiled concoction is said to increase the platelet count of a person with dengue fever. Low platelet count is one of the danger or deadly signs of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF).

While health experts are studying the potential of these strategies, they are again reminding the public about the basic information to prevent dengue:

  • Destroy all possible mosquito breeding sites like old tires, softdrink bottles and tin cans.
  • Use mosquito nets or protective clothing.
  • Fogging may be done only in outbreak areas.

Image source: Google