WHO recommends Sanofi's vaccine to control dengue spread

The world's first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control the spread of dengue globally.

World Health Organisation's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has recommended the use of dengue vaccine developed by France-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi to control spread of the life-threatening mosquito-borne disease, Sanofi said on Friday. Read: 33 FAQs about dengue answered.

The SAGE advises that countries with high dengue transmission consider the introduction of the dengue vaccine as part of an integrated disease prevention strategy including vector control to effectively lower their dengue disease burden, Sanofi and its vaccines global business unit Sanofi Pasteur said in a statement.

The pharmaceutical company's Dengvaxia dengue vaccine has been approved in four countries already, including Mexico and Brazil, which have regulatory authorities recognised by the WHO.

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We welcome these recommendations for Dengvaxia from SAGE, the advisory group to the WHO, for vaccines and immunisation, said Elias Zerhouni, Managing Director and president of global R&D, Sanofi. Did you know, dengue can also damage your brain?

The WHO has set objectives to reduce dengue morbidity by 25 percent and mortality by 50 percent by 2020. The recommendations from the SAGE are based on the technical review of clinical data from 25 clinical studies conducted in 15 different endemic and non-endemic countries around the world, including more than 40,000 study participants. Here are 8 tips to prevent dengue.

However, despite this recommendation by the WHO, in 2014, Scientists had warned that dengue vaccines could cause short-term but major spikes in the years after they are first used. This research was done by experts at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Clemson University, both of which supported the studies. Read: Will a dengue vaccine work?