Rio de Janeiro, June 9 (SANA) Brazil’s Health Ministry has temporarily suspended the rollout of a new single-dose dengue vaccine following reports of two deaths among recipients and an ongoing investigation into a possible link.
The ministry said that more than 500,000 people, mostly healthcare workers, have received the vaccine since the start of the year. Among them, 3,703 individuals developed symptoms resembling dengue fever, while 42 cases were classified as more severe adverse reactions.
According to the ministry, three serious cases were identified, including a 58-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman who later died, and a 38-year-old woman who was admitted to intensive care before being discharged.
Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a direct connection between the vaccine and the reported severe cases, describing the suspension as a “precautionary measure”.
Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, can cause high fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea and skin rash, and can be fatal in rare cases.
The vaccine, developed by Brazil’s state-run Butantan Institute and approved in November, was designed to simplify mass immunization campaigns by requiring a single dose. The only other globally available dengue vaccine, TAK-003, requires two doses administered three months apart, according to the World Health Organization.
Brazil recorded more than 6,000 dengue-related deaths in 2024, accounting for nearly half of global fatalities, although the situation improved significantly last year.
R.D/R.K
