At the end of July 2024, Swissmedic authorised the Qdenga vaccine from manufacturer Takeda Pharma AG. The vaccine is licensed for people aged four and over.

The Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine (ECTM) assessed the published and unpublished data for the Qdenga® vaccine. In line with the recommendation of WHO and other European countries, the Swiss ECTM issues the following recommendation:

• Vaccination with Qdenga® can be recommended for travellers from 6 years old and older who have evidence of previous dengue infection and who will be exposed in a region with significant dengue transmission.
  
• Vaccination against dengue fever virus with Qdenga® in persons with no evidence of previous dengue fever infection is not recommended.

Previous dengue infection is defined as i) a laboratory confirmed dengue infection (PCR, antigen or seroconversion) or ii) a compatible history of dengue infection with a positive IgG serological test.
This is a precautionary decision, since the current data also include the possibility that people who are vaccinated with Qdenga® before a first dengue infection may experience a more severe course of the disease when infected after vaccination. A consultation with a specialist in tropical and travel medicine is recommended.

Travel medicine advisors should provide concise communication in accessible language on the complexity and risk/benefit evaluation for the use of dengue vaccines in travellers.