Govt awaiting WHO recommendations before sourcing dengue vaccines

The Health Ministry is seriously considering the use of vaccines to curb the spike in dengue cases, but will be awaiting official word from the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, which is currently analysing data.
Responding to inaccurate reports in sections of the media, the Ministry clarified in a statement that it has not procured any dengue vaccine for use in the National Dengue Control Programme.
The missive outlined, “The use of dengue vaccine in the Dengue Control Programme is under serious consideration in Guyana, but a decision is yet to be made whether Guyana will introduce dengue vaccines as part of the fight against dengue. Once a decision is made, Guyana will procure adequate supply of dengue vaccines.”
The Ministry indicated that while the dengue vaccines – Dengvaxia from Sanofi Pasteur and Qdenga from Takeda – are licensed in a small number of countries, they have not yet been prequalified by the World Health Organization.
Neither the WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control, and the European Union regulatory authorities have recommended these vaccines for universal administration. In the small number of jurisdictions around the world where the vaccines are used, they are only used under very restrictive conditions.
The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization has been studying the dengue vaccine data, and Guyana is awaiting the recommendations coming out of the SAGE Group.
“As soon as the SAGE comes out with its recommendations, Guyana will work with PAHO/WHO to include dengue vaccines in our fight against dengue. Guyana’s FDA is prepared to license dengue vaccines as soon as a decision is made to use these vaccines,” the Ministry added.
One week ago, over 2,100 confirmed cases of dengue were reported in Guyana, of which more than 230 patients were hospitalised. In addition, 11 dengue-related deaths have been recorded for the year.
To ensure the adequate prevention, diagnosis and management of dengue, a Technical Working Group has been activated to assess, recommend, and implement actions to mitigate this public health threat.
Further, to ensure prevention and a curb in transmission, several environmental and entomological measures have been increased across Guyana, such as fogging (fumigation), residual spraying, home inspections, and distribution of larvicidal chemicals to communities through the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
However, the Ministry has also increased the procurement and distribution of rapid diagnostic testing kits and other laboratory supplies and equipment to ensure adequate diagnostic capacity.
If left untreated, dengue can be fatal in a matter of hours. It is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito – the same vector that transmits Zika and Chikungunya. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, rash, nausea or vomiting. The Health Ministry has cautioned against self-medicating.
Despite the rate of dengue cases in Guyana being above normal since March, Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, had stated earlier this month that the situation does not yet need to be classified as a crisis. (G12)