Dengue fever vaccine now available in Australia
A vaccine for dengue fever, Qdenga, is now available in Australia for travelers visiting endemic regions. Health authorities recommend the vaccine primarily for those who have previously contracted the virus and are planning travel to high-risk areas.
Why it matters
The availability of the vaccine provides a new preventative measure against a globally rising communicable disease.
- 1.02am . First published at 12.37am
shares Share article The dengue fever vaccine is available in Australia for the first time as cases recorded in some favourite overseas holiday destinations spike.
GPs can now order the vaccine, Qdenga, for patients under new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which urges some travellers, especially those treated for the disease previously, to get the jab.
Vaccine for the mosquito-borne dengue fever is now available in Australia. AP
For people aged four and over without a history of dengue who are planning short-term travel, vaccination with Qdenga “can be considered … based on an individual risk-benefit assessment”, ATAGI advises.
The dengue virus is the fastest growing communicable disease globally, with an estimated 100 million symptomatic cases every year.
Nearly all notified dengue cases diagnosed in Australia are acquired overseas by travellers returning from endemic countries.
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