Anti-dengue vaccine awaits approval as epidemic continues
and the government should act proactively to counter this menace from the country. Timely availability of dengue vaccines would save the countrymen; thus decreasing the overall health burden,” he added.
Health experts said that timely approval of lifesaving drugs would also help government achieve the health reforms as earlier suggested by the Asian Development Bank for the country’s health sector.
Pakistan has one of the lowest spending rates with it comes to pharmaceutical industry in the world ($8 per capita) as per the WHO report. This would deteriorate the overall health condition of the country with the spread of dengue fever, they said.
It is pertinent to mention that dengue fever has turned into an endemic in Pakistan with annual seasonal outbreaks observed every year. The virus is transmitted through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
The said vaccine has been approved by 14 countries and even made part of the national immunization program of many. Three doses of the vaccine would be needed to get protection. Effectiveness gauge suggested that out of 100 people who are given complete dosage, 65 will not be infected with dengue, whereas severity will be reduced by 93 percent in the rest, they added.
“It is very unfortunate that with a country like Pakistan, where we are already dealing with the health crisis, delay in approving breakthrough drugs and vaccines are adding to the miseries of the public,” an expert said.
An estimated 390 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 million resulting in illness.
Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and mild bleeding. Dengue may lead to thrombocytopenia, a condition in which platelet count falls below 50,000.