Anvisa authorised the single-dose Butantan-DV dengue vaccine on 26 November for people aged 12 to 59. Experts say a single-dose vaccine can improve coverage in remote and hard-to-reach communities, including parts of the Amazon. The approval follows Brazil's largest recorded dengue epidemic in 2024, when the Ministry of Health reported 6.4 million cases and 5,972 deaths. The World Health Organization reported more than 14 million global cases in 2024, with 12.6 million in Latin America and more than 8,000 deaths in the region.
Butantan reported that late-stage trials with 16,000 volunteers over nearly a decade showed 74.7% overall efficacy and 91.6% efficacy against severe dengue. The most recent data indicates 100% efficacy against hospitalisations, and Butantan said those results will be published soon in Nature Medicine. Earlier results after two and 3.7 years appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The institute said the vaccine will be included in Brazil's national immunisation programme in early 2026 and that more than 1 million doses are ready. It has partnered with WuXi Vaccines to produce 60 million doses over the next two years, with about half expected before the end of 2026. Some groups are not yet authorised to receive the vaccine: pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and older adults; Anvisa is analysing evidence for these populations.
Specialists cautioned that the vaccine will not eliminate dengue by itself and stressed the need for continued mosquito control, surveillance and measures to reduce Aedes aegypti reproduction. They also noted that climate change and urbanisation increase conditions favourable to the mosquito and the risk of other diseases such as chikungunya and yellow fever.
Difficult words
- authorised — Give official permission or approval.
- efficacy — How well a medical product works.
- immunisation — Process to protect people against disease.
- immunocompromised — Having a weaker than normal immune system.
- surveillance — Ongoing collection and checking of health data.
- coverage — Part of the population that receives a service.
- hospitalisations — Being admitted to a hospital for treatment.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could a single-dose vaccine improve vaccination in remote communities?
- What other actions does the article say are needed besides vaccination to control dengue?
- How might climate change and urbanisation increase the risk of mosquito diseases in your region?
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