Dengue Deaths Could Drop 90% as India’s Homegrown Vaccine, First Ever Local Vaccine Promises Massive Relief

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): India is getting closer to a major medical breakthrough in the fight against dengue, a disease that sickens thousands and kills hundreds of people every monsoon season. The country’s first homegrown dengue vaccine is moving ahead quickly, with clinical trials currently underway. If everything goes as planned, the vaccine could be ready for approval and public use within the next two years.

This vaccine is being developed jointly by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and an Indian pharmaceutical company. Health experts hope it can be submitted for approval by the end of 2027, making it available to the public soon after.

According to health specialist Dr. Sameer Bhati, the vaccine is a “tetravalent” type, which means it will work against all four kinds of dengue viruses. This is a big achievement, as creating a single vaccine effective against every strain has been a major challenge worldwide. Dr. Bhati believes that once this vaccine is available, deaths from dengue in India could drop by as much as 80-90%.

The vaccine will train the body’s immune system to fight the dengue virus effectively, so even if someone does get infected, the disease won’t become serious. This could greatly reduce the chances of hospitalization or death, especially among children, the elderly, and people with weak immunity.

Since the vaccine is fully developed and tested in India, it is also a big step forward for the country’s self-reliance goals in healthcare under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. However, experts caution that no vaccine can offer 100% protection. People must continue to take measures like avoiding mosquito bites and keeping their surroundings clean, even after the vaccine is available.