Does
the Anti-Dengue Vaccine really works?
Keannu
Dave Cuesta, BAMC 3
Journ
103 – Feature Writing
KNOW MORE ABOUT DENGUE
It
is true that majority of us already know that the outbreak of Dengue Fever is now prevalent in the society. We can say this based on statistics as well as from the reports of various media platforms.
As of today, Dengue Fever has been categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most pervasive communicable menace to people not only in Southeast Asian countries, but to the whole globe as well.
The organization also defined Dengue Fever as a viral infection transmitted to the blood from the bite on an infected female "Aedes mosquito". Specialists term is as “break-bone” fever.
Just one sting of a potential carrier is enough to transfer the virus to a host. The virus would then lead to severe influenza-like illness - which could be lethal if not treated immediately.
“Anyone is likely susceptible to infliction since the virus is not picky and does not exempt anyone at all ages” – WHO also declared.
Meanwhile, according to Medicine Net’s website, most dengue outbreaks divulge from sub-tropical and tropical countries. Why is that? Its because the hot temperature and humid atmosphere both contributes in making the environment more palatable for female Aedes mosquitoes to propagate.
And unfortunately, Philippines is a tropical country. Which means, we cannot deny the fact that our country’s geographic location is partially culpable for the higher risk and greater widespread of Dengue among Filipinos – it’s a sad reality, indeed.
There are four different viruses that can cause Dengue fever, all of which are spread by the same class of parasite. These distinct serotypes are DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4. The level of its severity may likewise vary from mild to severe. The worse forms include dengue shock syndrome and dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF as what most people call it.
SYMPTOMS
If you tend to have a fever that has been going on for days and does not seem to lower down, then you might need to have a medical diagnosis. After being bitten by the potential mosquito, the incubation period usually ranges from 4 to 6 days before the clear symptoms appear – based from Medical News Today’s page. It also stated there that the symptoms include:
If you tend to have a fever that has been going on for days and does not seem to lower down, then you might need to have a medical diagnosis. After being bitten by the potential mosquito, the incubation period usually ranges from 4 to 6 days before the clear symptoms appear – based from Medical News Today’s page. It also stated there that the symptoms include:
-
aching muscles and joints
-
body rash which disappears then reappears
-
extremely high fever
-
intense headache and vomiting or nauseous feeling
STATISTICS
OF DENGUE CASES
In the Western Pacific Region itself, like in China for example, there were 1,971 dengue cases reported from the latest updates of the World Health Organization as of September to November 2014.
Malaysia on the other hand had 102,801 cases which was higher compared last year. Also, Singapore with 8,786 cases, Cambodia with 12,218 cases, Vietnam with 39,410, Lao with 1,641 and Australia with 1,486 cases - all of which have intensified from the preceding year.
The Philippines also falls to no exception with this alarming situation. Recently, as of January to November 2014, still based from the pertinent records of the World Health Organization, Philippines garnered a total of 59, 943 dengue cases which dragged the country to infamously rank “fourth” in the list of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with top counts of Dengue cases.
Most of the cases centered in Metro Manila with 11,476, followed by Calabarzon with 7,265 and Central Luzon with 7,044. Forty percent of the cases were also found to stretch the age group 5 to 14 years old.
It seems that more and more Filipinos contract Dengue virus nowadays. “A 16 percent surge in dengue incidence has occurred in 2013 to 2014” – according to the report of the Philippine’s National Department of Health. The number of deaths from Dengue virus also escalated to 328 in 2014 which is quite higher than the 293 fatalities tallied on the same period of duration in 2013.
In the Western Pacific Region itself, like in China for example, there were 1,971 dengue cases reported from the latest updates of the World Health Organization as of September to November 2014.
Malaysia on the other hand had 102,801 cases which was higher compared last year. Also, Singapore with 8,786 cases, Cambodia with 12,218 cases, Vietnam with 39,410, Lao with 1,641 and Australia with 1,486 cases - all of which have intensified from the preceding year.
The Philippines also falls to no exception with this alarming situation. Recently, as of January to November 2014, still based from the pertinent records of the World Health Organization, Philippines garnered a total of 59, 943 dengue cases which dragged the country to infamously rank “fourth” in the list of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with top counts of Dengue cases.
Most of the cases centered in Metro Manila with 11,476, followed by Calabarzon with 7,265 and Central Luzon with 7,044. Forty percent of the cases were also found to stretch the age group 5 to 14 years old.
It seems that more and more Filipinos contract Dengue virus nowadays. “A 16 percent surge in dengue incidence has occurred in 2013 to 2014” – according to the report of the Philippine’s National Department of Health. The number of deaths from Dengue virus also escalated to 328 in 2014 which is quite higher than the 293 fatalities tallied on the same period of duration in 2013.
FINALLY
A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
Due
to the haste proliferation of Dengue cases nowadays, it’s feels
uplifting to have grasped such information that scientists gave their
full attention in formulating a solution. Lucky for us, through
their efforts, a French Pharmaceutical Company named “Sanofi
Pasteur” in Paris, France finally devised a prototype Anti-Dengue
Vaccine called the “CYD-TVD” after being alarmed by the rapid
exacerbation of Dengue, especially in tropical countries.
Sanofi Pasteur announced that by 2015, its vaccines division will start applying for licenses with the Health authorities of various countries.
As for the Philippines, the vaccine was eventually made available and distributed just last July 2015. Even the National DOH confirmed they will definitely allot a budget for the purchasing of CYD-TVD to incorporate it into their vaccination programs nationwide.
At last! We can say that this "Anti-Dengue Vaccine" might be our saving grace and the answer to our concerns regarding the issue. However, a question still lies, does it really work? Is it effective?
Sanofi Pasteur announced that by 2015, its vaccines division will start applying for licenses with the Health authorities of various countries.
As for the Philippines, the vaccine was eventually made available and distributed just last July 2015. Even the National DOH confirmed they will definitely allot a budget for the purchasing of CYD-TVD to incorporate it into their vaccination programs nationwide.
At last! We can say that this "Anti-Dengue Vaccine" might be our saving grace and the answer to our concerns regarding the issue. However, a question still lies, does it really work? Is it effective?
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE
“It was announced on a global scale that there is now a vaccine that has been experimented, developed, and found to be effective in preventing infliction of Dengue” – as what Enrique Ona, Health Secretary of DOH said in an interview.
The Anti-Dengue vaccine already underwent clinical trial for more than two years and has shown a promising overall efficacy of 56.6 percent, Ona also said.
Additionally, the final phase on the Anti-Dengue efficacy was performed in five Asian countries including the Philippines, where specifically 3,500 children in the cities of Cebu and San Pablo participated and were injected for the observation as well as the verification of its effectiveness.
As a result, more than half of the test subjects did not contract dengue compared to the group that weren’t given any dosage. Because of those positive remarks, the French firm said its vaccine yielded a “good safety profile”.
The study also showed that after three doses, the vaccine reduced the possibility of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever by 88.5 percent, according to the World Health Organization’s criteria.
It was also noted that there was a 67 percent decline in the risk of hospitalization caused by dengue during the observation period. “These results are of great public importance due to the high incidence of dengue and it’s disruptive effect on the country’s health system” – Ona added.
In addition, Mr. Rennan Cimafranca, Nurse V and Head of the DOH 7 Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit expressed his positive outlook about the vaccine in an interview, - “So far, since the release of the vaccine, what I’ve observed from the records of the National Department of Health, is that it monitored a steep drop in the number of Dengue reports in the Philippines from January to November”, he said.
But he quickly supplemented his former statements by saying despite of the presence of an effective vaccine, people must still continue their preventive measures and the health agencies should still push through with their anti-dengue campaigns.
So basically, looking at the good test results of the Anti-Dengue vaccine in the Philippine context alone, it becomes a relief to know that we have the chance to shield ourselves from the widespread menace of Dengue.
“It was announced on a global scale that there is now a vaccine that has been experimented, developed, and found to be effective in preventing infliction of Dengue” – as what Enrique Ona, Health Secretary of DOH said in an interview.
The Anti-Dengue vaccine already underwent clinical trial for more than two years and has shown a promising overall efficacy of 56.6 percent, Ona also said.
Additionally, the final phase on the Anti-Dengue efficacy was performed in five Asian countries including the Philippines, where specifically 3,500 children in the cities of Cebu and San Pablo participated and were injected for the observation as well as the verification of its effectiveness.
As a result, more than half of the test subjects did not contract dengue compared to the group that weren’t given any dosage. Because of those positive remarks, the French firm said its vaccine yielded a “good safety profile”.
The study also showed that after three doses, the vaccine reduced the possibility of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever by 88.5 percent, according to the World Health Organization’s criteria.
It was also noted that there was a 67 percent decline in the risk of hospitalization caused by dengue during the observation period. “These results are of great public importance due to the high incidence of dengue and it’s disruptive effect on the country’s health system” – Ona added.
In addition, Mr. Rennan Cimafranca, Nurse V and Head of the DOH 7 Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit expressed his positive outlook about the vaccine in an interview, - “So far, since the release of the vaccine, what I’ve observed from the records of the National Department of Health, is that it monitored a steep drop in the number of Dengue reports in the Philippines from January to November”, he said.
But he quickly supplemented his former statements by saying despite of the presence of an effective vaccine, people must still continue their preventive measures and the health agencies should still push through with their anti-dengue campaigns.
So basically, looking at the good test results of the Anti-Dengue vaccine in the Philippine context alone, it becomes a relief to know that we have the chance to shield ourselves from the widespread menace of Dengue.
VACCINE
NOT YET IN CEBU?
When the Anti-Dengue was distributed in the Philippines last July 2015, the National DOH Agency said it is meant to be distributed throughout the DOH branches in the country for the sole purpose of reducing the number of Dengue incidents. But turns out in Cebu City, the DOH 7 does not have a single supply of such.
Cebu City nonetheless also tops in the country in terms of Dengue cases. For the first nine months of 2015, DOH 7 has recorded an alarming 831 dengue cases - far higher than the same period last year. So given there is a high level of dengue cases in Cebu, I was taken aback by the fact that the vaccine is still out of reach by the health agencies in the city.
To fill up such queries at hand, Ms. Michelle Acosta, Nurse III and Head for Communicable Disease Awareness of DOH Region 7 explained in a phone interview the reason why the vaccine is still unavailable in Cebu.
“It’s because what I’ve heard from the interview of Secretary Garin, though the vaccine was distributed here in the Philippines last July 2015, the process by which it will be released to other DOH branches will be done by 2016” – she said.
However, Ms. Acosta added that they are also dismayed after knowing that it would still take long before the vaccine would be released in Cebu. “We badly need it because it targets the four strains of Dengue (DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4) virus and the cases in Cebu are a bit high especially since it’s the summer season”, - her exact words in the interview.
Her last words were that she hopes the Central office could augment a budget to their department for the vaccine and that she is sure by the time the vaccine would be ready for distribution, DOH 7 in Cebu can easily procure some supply.
As what the famous saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. Sounds too cliché but otherwise true in the real sense. As much as possible, we want to live their lives with protection against various threats around us.
Just like Dengue for example. Maybe before, we always feel a tremor rushing down our spine every time we hear the word. But now, since there is already what we call the “Anti-Dengue Vaccine”, which has been scientifically proven as a good solution, we can now have a feeling of relief from our worries and live with immunity against our greatest fear.
When the Anti-Dengue was distributed in the Philippines last July 2015, the National DOH Agency said it is meant to be distributed throughout the DOH branches in the country for the sole purpose of reducing the number of Dengue incidents. But turns out in Cebu City, the DOH 7 does not have a single supply of such.
Cebu City nonetheless also tops in the country in terms of Dengue cases. For the first nine months of 2015, DOH 7 has recorded an alarming 831 dengue cases - far higher than the same period last year. So given there is a high level of dengue cases in Cebu, I was taken aback by the fact that the vaccine is still out of reach by the health agencies in the city.
To fill up such queries at hand, Ms. Michelle Acosta, Nurse III and Head for Communicable Disease Awareness of DOH Region 7 explained in a phone interview the reason why the vaccine is still unavailable in Cebu.
“It’s because what I’ve heard from the interview of Secretary Garin, though the vaccine was distributed here in the Philippines last July 2015, the process by which it will be released to other DOH branches will be done by 2016” – she said.
However, Ms. Acosta added that they are also dismayed after knowing that it would still take long before the vaccine would be released in Cebu. “We badly need it because it targets the four strains of Dengue (DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4) virus and the cases in Cebu are a bit high especially since it’s the summer season”, - her exact words in the interview.
Her last words were that she hopes the Central office could augment a budget to their department for the vaccine and that she is sure by the time the vaccine would be ready for distribution, DOH 7 in Cebu can easily procure some supply.
As what the famous saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. Sounds too cliché but otherwise true in the real sense. As much as possible, we want to live their lives with protection against various threats around us.
Just like Dengue for example. Maybe before, we always feel a tremor rushing down our spine every time we hear the word. But now, since there is already what we call the “Anti-Dengue Vaccine”, which has been scientifically proven as a good solution, we can now have a feeling of relief from our worries and live with immunity against our greatest fear.
Sources:
http://www.wpro.who.int/emerging_diseases/DengueSituationUpdates/en/
http://www.wpro.who.int/philippines/areas/communicable_diseases/dengue/continuation_dengue_area_page/en/
http://www.rappler.com/nation/90221-doh-dengue-cases-first-quarter-2015
http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/09/29/1505175/higher-last-years-cebu-city-most-dengue-cases-central-visayas
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6625
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/505906/news/nation/dengue-vaccine-for-fda-approval-within-this-year-doh
http://www.rappler.com/nation/63497-dengue-vaccine-ph-july-2015
