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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Government still evaluating dengue vaccine, Palace says

Government still evaluating dengue vaccine, Palace says

Published Jun 2, 2026 05:18 pm
Malacañang said the government is still evaluating the Qdenga dengue vaccine developed by a Japanese pharmaceutical company.
"Ayon sa DOH, sinusuri pa ng Food and Drug Administration ang mungkahi ng aplikante para sa bakuna (According to the Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration is still evaluating the applicant's proposal for the vaccine)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, June 2.
Castro noted that based on available data, the efficacy of the TAK-003 or Qdenga vaccine was observed to be lower among children aged four to five years old compared to those aged six years old and above.
She added that health authorities are also considering data indicating a possible risk of severe dengue serotype 3 among vaccinated individuals who had not previously contracted dengue.
"Sa ating bansa, dengue serotype 3 ang madalas na kumakalat, so abangan na lamang muna natin ang magiging tugon ng aplikante (In our country, dengue serotype 3 is the strain that most commonly circulates. So, for now, let us wait for the applicant's response)" Castro said.
The Palace official also urged the public to continue supporting the campaign against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, especially as the rainy season approaches.
She noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recognize vector control as the primary means of preventing and controlling dengue.
“Sa madaling salita, kapag walang lamok, walang dengue (In other words, if there are no mosquitoes, there will be no dengue),” Castro said.
She cited the DOH's “4 O’Clock Habit” or “Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito” which encourages the public to practice “taob (flip), taktak (shake), tuyo (dry), at takip (cover)” to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and prevent the spread of dengue.
Castro said the sustained implementation of anti-dengue measures has contributed to the significant decline in dengue cases in the country this year.
Citing the latest DOH data, Castro said dengue cases across the country dropped by 57 percent, with 48,151 cases recorded this year compared to 110,924 during the same period last year.

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Dengue DOH Malacañang Qdenga dengue vaccine
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