THE Philippine Pediatric Society – Davao Southern Mindanao Chapter is advocating for the approval of a next-generation dengue vaccine to curb the rising number of dengue cases in the Philippines.
Dr. Ma. Delta Aguilar, head of the Infectious Disease Cluster for Reemerging Diseases at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), emphasized the need for a multi-pronged approach recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This strategy includes sustained vector control, effective communication campaigns, evidence-based clinical care, robust dengue surveillance, and vaccination.
Aguilar noted that second-generation dengue vaccines are already licensed in over 30 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Brazil became the first country to include dengue vaccination in its national immunization program on February 9, 2024. She also clarified that the new vaccine is significantly different from the controversial Dengvaxia.
“The second generation anti-dengue vaccine, this is what we are trying to promote right now, this is the live attenuated tetravalent vaccine with Dengue virus as the backbone. Hopefully, we want this to be licensed in the Philippines,” Aguilar said during a media roundtable on February 23, 2025, at the Pinnacle Hotel in Davao City.
She said the country should not wait for another dengue outbreak before approving the vaccine, highlighting its role in preventing future epidemics.
Aguilar acknowledged that vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge, but she urged pediatricians to educate parents on the benefits of dengue vaccination.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association has formally urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to take action against the country’s growing dengue crisis. The association recommended granting access to TAKOO3, a dengue vaccine developed by Japanese manufacturer Takeda. However, as of this writing, the Office of the President has yet to respond.
The push for vaccination comes amid a surge in dengue cases. The Philippines recorded over 380,000 cases and 881 deaths from January to November 2024—an 81 percent increase from the previous year. The country leads Southeast Asia in dengue cases and fatalities.
Dr. Diana Dadia, a pediatric consultant at SPMC, reported that the Davao Region recorded approximately 28,397 dengue cases from January 1 to December 31, 2024, according to the Department of Health – Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU).
Of these cases, 51 percent were male and 49 percent were female, with most infections occurring in children aged five to nine. The region also recorded 163 dengue-related deaths in 2024.
DOH-RESU noted a 40 percent rise in dengue cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking a 19% increase from the same period in 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, can lead to severe complications and fatalities, especially in tropical regions like the Philippines. RGP
