Takeda launches Australia’s first dengue vaccine as ATAGI issues its advice

Takeda’s dengue vaccine Qdenga is now available in Australia on a private prescription for individuals aged four years and older. The availability of the vaccine comes as the viral infection remains an important consideration for Australians travelling across the Asia-Pacific region.

The launch coincides with newly issued clinical advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which refers to Qdenga as the “only dengue vaccine available in Australia to protect against serious disease caused by the dengue virus”. A new chapter on the vaccination is also being developed for the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the fastest growing communicable disease globally. In Australia, 2,641 dengue cases were reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in the 12 months to 30 March 2025, with more than 94% acquired overseas, including in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.

Dr Deb Mills, Medical Director of Dr Deb The Travel Doctor, said the risk of dengue could be underestimated by Australians travelling to familiar holiday destinations.

“Australians are very comfortable travelling internationally, and this familiarity can sometimes mean we underestimate the health risks,” Dr Mills said. “Dengue isn’t confined to remote or unusual destinations. The mosquitoes that transmit dengue are found in cities and popular tourist areas, including places Australians visit every year. Even luxury tourists may be at risk from a stray mosquito.”

“This makes dengue an important part of many pre-travel health conversations. As always, travel health providers need to talk to patients about where they’re going, their activities, how long they’ll be away, and their individual circumstances before recommending the different ways travellers can reduce their risk,” she added.

The clinical efficacy of subcutaneous Qdenga was assessed in the DEN-301 randomised phase 3 trial. The data reported approximately 80% vaccine efficacy against virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) at 12 months post-vaccination, with efficacy estimates ranging from around 60% to over 95%, depending on a person’s baseline serostatus or the dengue virus serotype. The trial data also demonstrated sustained protection for up to 4.5 years following vaccination.

For clinicians, one practical challenge is the tendency for travellers to leave their health preparations until shortly before departure. With Qdenga administered as a two-dose course three months apart, early consultation with a GP or travel-health provider becomes particularly important for patients considering vaccination before an overseas trip.

“Vaccination doesn’t replace the fundamentals though,” explained Dr Mills. “Avoiding mosquito bites remains essential, but we now have an extra option to consider when assessing how best to protect an individual traveller.”

While the cost per dose of Qdenga has not yet been publicly confirmed, pharmacists can play an important role in the pre-travel health conversation. As a frequent point of contact for Australians preparing for international travel, they have another opportunity to prompt travellers to consider dengue risk and seek professional travel-health advice well before departure.

David Henderson, Takeda Oceania Country Head, said “Dengue is an important global health challenge and one that is particularly relevant to Australians travelling internationally. More than 32 million doses of Qdenga have now been distributed globally, and we are pleased to make the vaccine available in Australia.”

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