CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: India launches first dengue vaccination drive, claims 80 percent protection with two doses
Tenkasi. For the first time in India, a vaccination drive to prevent dengue has been launched on a pilot basis at Kadayanallur in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district. According to a report that emerged on October 19, 2026, the area is among those recording a high number of dengue cases. A decision on expanding the drive will be taken only after assessing the impact of Qdenga, the vaccine developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda.
According to Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj, two doses of the vaccine will be administered at an interval of three months. He claimed that after both doses, the vaccine could provide about 80 percent effectiveness in protection against dengue. Two scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research will also be involved in studying the impact and safety of the campaign.
Qdenga is the first dengue vaccine to receive approval in India. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved it in July 2026 for the prevention of dengue in people aged four to 60 years. The vaccine has been developed with the objective of providing protection against all four types of the dengue virus.
In global clinical trials, its effectiveness against confirmed dengue cases 12 months after the second dose was recorded at 80.2 percent. However, this does not mean that the possibility of infection is completely eliminated after vaccination.
According to the health department, based on the results obtained in Kadayanallur, the expansion of vaccination to other districts of Tamil Nadu and later to other parts of the country will be considered. Experts said that along with vaccination, mosquito control, preventing water from accumulating around homes, and seeking timely medical help when symptoms appear are also necessary.
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