Mexico is the first country to approve the use of the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia. 40,000 people between the ages of 9 and 49 will receive the vaccine during a first treatment phase.
The treatment has been in the works for the last 20 years by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. The company said it spent $1.6 billion to develop the vaccine, which is designed to protect against the four strains of dengue virus.
Trials revealed that it can provide a 56.5% protection against the disease.
A Rappler report also noted that 3 doses reduced the possibility of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever by 88.5% and the risk of hospitalization due to dengue was reduced by 67%. How much a dose will cost has yet to be finalized.
The Philippines took part in the last phase efficacy study of the dengue vaccine where 3,500 children from Laguna and Cebu were monitored over a 25-month period together with children from other Southeast Asian countries.
After which, the DOH announced that the vaccine would be available in the Philippines before the end of 2015 but no further updates have been heard since July.
READ: Dengue cases in the Philippines near 100,000 mark: how to protect your family
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