Context:
WHO prequalified new dengue vaccine TAK-003.
Dengue Vaccine TAK-003:
- Developed by – Japan’s pharma company Takeda
- A live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened versions of the 4 serotypes of the virus that cause dengue.
- 2nd dengue vaccine to receive WHO prequalification (1st being CYD-TDV vaccine)
- WHO recommends the use of TAK-003 in children aged 6–16 years in settings with high dengue burden and transmission intensity.
What is WHO Vaccine prequalification?
- Created in 1987 to assure the quality of vaccines distributed by UN purchasing agencies.
- How vaccines are included in the list?
- Vaccines showing positive outcomes after evaluation of relevant data, testing of samples and WHO inspection of relevant manufacturing sites.
- Inclusion in the list does not imply approval of vaccines and manufacturing sites by the WHO.
- Such approval is a prerogative of the National Regulatory Authorities.
- How pre-qualification is important?
- In the expansion of global access to vaccines
- It enables procurement by UN agencies (including UNICEF) and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization).
- Other vector-borne disease for which vaccines are included in this list – malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Rabies, etc.
About Dengue:
- A mosquito-borne tropical disease
- Caused by – virus
- Vector – Infected female mosquitoes (primarily the Aedes aegypti)
- Transmission by –
- Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito) has been seen in Europe.
- Also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby, via blood products, organ donation and transfusions.
- No specific treatment for dengue
- Approved Vaccine – Dengvaxia
- Affected regions – Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas (most of which are in Asia, Africa, and the Americas)
Dengvaxia vaccine in children 9 through 16 years old with laboratory-confirmed evidence of a previous dengue virus infection and living in areas where dengue is common.
Wolbachia Control Method:
- Mosquito Infection: Scientists infected mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria.Population Replacement Strategy: Modified mosquitoes were released to interbreed with local mosquitoes, spreading Wolbachia.
- Dengue Incidence Reduction: After 27 months, areas with Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes saw a 77% drop in dengue cases.
Source: India Today
Previous Year Question
‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
(b) Converting crop residues into packing material
(c) Producing biodegradable plastics
(d) Producing biochar from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass
Answer: (a)
