Dengue vaccine is now available

[L-R] Takeda India and Southeast Asia Head of Medical Affairs, Dr Goh Choo Beng, Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia [DPAM] Chairman Prof. Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Takeda Malaysia, Singapore Country General Manager, Dr Lynette Moey and Takeda Malaysia and Singapore Vaccine Franchise Head Sony Paul at the launching of Takeda's Dengue vaccine in Malaysia at One World Hotel on June 11. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can now protect themselves against dengue by getting vaccinated.The Drug Control Authority recently approved the first dengue vaccine for use in the country.

Manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Takeda, the vaccine named Qdenga protects against all four dengue virus serotypes. It is particularly effective against the serotype-2 virus (DENV-2), which is currently the dominant viral strain in Malaysia.