KOMPAS.com – One effective way to prevent dengue fever is dengue immunization.
Please note, dengue fever or known as DHF is a disease caused by the dengue virus.
According to Indonesian Pediatrician Association, Dengue virus has four serotypes namely DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.
Also read: 4 Characteristics of Early Stage DHF, Don’t Treat It Too Late
The dengue virus can be transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This viral infection can attack children to adults.
To increase awareness of this disease, recognize the following dengue immunization to prevent dengue fever.
Benefits of dengue immunization
Chairperson of the National Commission on Post-Immunization Follow-up Events (KIPI) Prof. Dr. dr. Hinky Hindra Irawan Satari, Sp.A, Subsp.IPT, M.TropPaed explained that dengue immunization is useful for preventing severe infection and death from dengue fever.
“Immunization with the dengue vaccine can prevent infection. Even if you do get hit, you won’t go into shock, you won’t be in the ICU, you won’t be bleeding,” said Hinky, as quoted from BetweenThursday (23/2/2023).
Apart from dengue immunization, Hinky explained, increasing the body’s resistance to prevent dengue fever can also be done with a healthy diet with balanced nutrition.
In addition, prevention of DHF is carried out by removing furniture that can hold water and become a breeding ground for DHF mosquitoes, diligently draining the bathtub, not hanging clothes, and using mosquito repellent to prevent DHF mosquito bites.
Also read: 3 Characteristics of DHF from Fever to Recovery
Types of dengue immunization
In Indonesia, currently there are two types of vaccines used for dengue immunization, namely:
This dengue vaccine is a type of chimeric yellow fever tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV).
The Dengvaxia vaccine contains attenuated tetravalent dengue virus. However, this vaccine is effective if given to children aged 9 to 16 years who have previously been infected with the dengue virus.
Dengue immunization still needs to be given to children who have had dengue fever before because when infected with dengue virus, it is impossible for a child to be exposed to four types or serotypes of dengue virus at once.
Usually, children are only exposed to one serotype of the virus when they have DHF. So, when given a dengue immunization containing 4 dengue serotypes, children can develop immunity against other dengue serotypes that have not yet infected the body.
Also read: 6 Characteristics of Spots of Dengue Fever (Hemorrhagic Fever) That You Need to Know
This dengue vaccine is a type of live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (TDV).
Qdenga consists of 4 dengue virus strains, namely attenuated serotype 2 dengue strain (TDV-2), recombinant Dengue serotype 2/1 strain (TDV-1), recombinant Dengue serotype 2/3 strain (TDV-3), and recombinant Dengue strain serotype 2/4 (TDV-4).
According to National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), this vaccine is effectively given to ages 6 to 45 years.
The vaccine is given in two doses and given three months apart for each dose. This vaccine can be given to people who have never or have never had dengue fever.
Also read: Differences between Fever, Symptoms of DHF, Typhoid, and Malaria according to Doctors
Dengue immunization side effects
There are several side effects of dengue immunization that are sometimes complained of, including:
- Pain, redness and swelling around the injection site. Usually, these side effects go away within 1 to 3 days
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Weak
- Tired
- Sleepy
- No appetite
- Mild fever
Most of the reported side effects of dengue immunization are mild to moderate symptoms.
Also read: 9 Causes of Low Platelets, Not Always DHF (Dengue Fever)
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