Although
the number of dengue fever cases in Cambodia nearly tripled during the first 17
weeks of 2016 compared to the same period last year, a health official said a
vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus still needs to be vetted by the WHO before
local licensing and introduction could be considered.
From
January to April, the Kingdom saw 1,510 confirmed dengue cases and three
deaths, compared to 550 infections and one death at the same point in 2015,
said Rithea Leang, the national dengue control program manager at the Ministry
of Health.
In spite
of several recent meetings in which the dengue vaccine has come up, he added,
the ministry is focusing on the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for the time
being.
“WHO is
awaiting a submission of an application from the manufacturer for
prequalifications of this vaccine,” he said.
The
dengue vaccine, dengvaxia, was first licensed in Mexico in December 2015 for
use in individuals aged 9 to 45 years old living in endemic areas. It was
developed by French drug maker Sanofi and approved based on two large trials
that showed it protected two-thirds of its participants against all four of the
virus’ serotypes.
A group
of WHO experts met last month to review the vaccine, and recommended that
countries consider introduction of the vaccine only in geographic settings with
high incidence rates, Leang said.
WHO in
July will publish a report specifying its position on the vaccine and outlining
its recommendations. WHO Cambodia officials could not be reached for comment
yesterday.
The
number of dengue cases on a yearly basis in the Kingdom ranges from 10,000 to
25,000, Leang said.
“We
cannot predict the impact specifically for Cambodia until it can be introduced
to the community,” he added.
Rob
Kelly, a spokesman for the pro-vaccine non-profit GAVI, which has committed
millions to support immunisation in Cambodia, said GAVI only funds vaccines
that have received the green light from WHO.
“As
things stand, the vaccine has received regulatory approval, but has not yet
received prequalification or a WHO recommendation for use,” he said.
However,
he added, GAVI has a process it uses to help its board decide whether to make
funding available for new vaccines – with the next one due in 2018 – and dengue
will be considered as part of that process, he added.
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