The first vaccine against dengue fever came onto the market in February of this year. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) is now making a recommendation for travel vaccinations, but only for certain people.
As the STIKO announced on November 30th, it only recommends vaccination with the new vaccine Qdenga® to people aged four and over who have already had a dengue virus infection confirmed by laboratory diagnosis in the past. They should receive the vaccine before traveling to endemic areas with an increased risk of infection or during targeted activities with dengue viruses outside of endemic areas.
If there is no written evidence of a previous infection, anamnestic information is sufficient, according to the STIKO. She does not recommend determining the serostatus before vaccination because sufficiently reliable diagnostics are not available everywhere.
The STIKO is currently not making a general vaccination recommendation for people who have never been infected with the dengue virus, as it cannot currently be ruled out that a first infection after vaccination will result in a severe course of the disease for these people. The infection is typically asymptomatic or mild when first infected. The second infection, on the other hand, can be accompanied by a serious complication, dengue hemorrhagic fever.
A complete vaccination series with Qdenga® consists of two vaccine doses at least three months apart. The vaccination can be administered at the same time as the travel vaccinations against hepatitis A or yellow fever. The live vaccine must not be used in people with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency or in pregnant or breastfeeding women. At this point, no statement can be made about the need for a booster vaccination, as relevant studies have not yet been completed.