Panel Proposes Adding Qdenga Dengue Vaccine to Immunisation Programme

A Parliamentary Committee recommended including the newly approved Qdenga vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme to combat vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.

The vaccine, approved by the DCGI for individuals aged 4 to 60, is expected to be commercially available by mid-2027 and requires two doses administered three months apart.

The panel urged the integration of IMD weather forecasts and AI-based surveillance to identify disease hotspots and improve outbreak prediction through the Integrated Health Information Platform.