Panama Won’t Rely on Dengue Vaccine Alone, Despite Brazil’s Success
Brazil has seen a remarkable 75% reduction in dengue cases and an 83% decrease in associated deaths in the first three months of 2025.This success is attributed to the inclusion of the QDENGA (TAK-003) vaccine, developed by Japanese pharmaceutical Takeda and studied in Panama, into its public health system less than two years ago.
Though, Panama currently has no plans to introduce this vaccine into the vaccination scheme of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), as it’s not considered a definitive solution to the dengue problem.
This was confirmed by the Minister of Health, FERNANDO BOYD GALINDO, who explained that dengue presents a complex challenge. He highlighted that the disease is caused by four different types of viruses and the vaccine provides only temporary immunity, leaving patients susceptible to reinfection.
Boyd Galindo emphasized that the key to reducing infections lies in prevention, specifically the elimination of mosquito breeding sites – stagnant water sources both inside and outside homes. “the only way we are going to avoid or reduce dengue cases is if each one gets involved. You have to check the courtyards, those of the neighbors, the streets, and see how we can eliminate these hatcheries,” he stressed.
Despite advancements in vaccine production, the minister reiterated that there is no magic bullet for eradicating the virus. He urged citizens to actively participate in prevention efforts.
Also read: Dengue vaccine: Panama studies it, WHO approves it, but it still does not reach the country
[Image of Health Region in San Miguelito conducting sweeps in communities with high case numbers. Photo/courtesy]
Health authorities are continuing fumigation campaigns, community education, and monitoring in high-risk areas, but emphasize that public collaboration is crucial to stopping the spread of dengue in the country.
According to a report from Minsa’s Department of Epidemiology, as of epidemiological week 32 (August 3-9, 2025), there have been 9,791 accumulated cases of dengue nationwide and 15 deaths associated with the disease.
[Image of minister of Health with caption: Dengue vaccine will not solve the problem, says the Minister of Health]
## Qdenga Vaccine Shows Positive Impact in Brazil’s Fight Against Dengue
Brazil has seen a meaningful positive shift in its fight against dengue fever following the implementation of a national vaccination program utilizing the Qdenga vaccine. The vaccine, which protects against all four dengue serotypes, appears to be contributing to a reduction in severe cases and fatalities.At the beginning of 2024, Brazil experienced a resurgence of dengue, with over 120,000 confirmed cases reported within just three weeks, prompting health emergencies in multiple states. Following the rollout of the vaccination campaign, the epidemiological curve began to change dramatically. [https://www.who.int/news/item/08-12-2023-who-recommends-use-of-takeda-s-dengue-vaccine](https://www.who.int/news/item/08-12-2023-who-recommends-use-of-takeda-s-dengue-vaccine)
As of late 2024/early 2025, approximately 2.2 million first doses and over 930,000 second doses of the Qdenga vaccine had been administered across more than 1,900 municipalities throughout Brazil. [https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/vacinacao/dengue](https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/vacinacao/dengue)
While the vaccine is a key component of the improved situation, authorities attribute the reduction in severe cases and deaths to a combination of factors. These include effective coordination between local and federal governments, and robust community mobilization efforts.
The Qdenga vaccine