Health experts press vaccine use as dengue deaths top 300

MANILA, Philippines — Health experts are urging the government to consider vaccines against dengue as several areas report epidemic-level activity despite a nationwide decline in cases this year.

Nina Gloriani, former dean of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Public Health, said vaccination should be considered alongside existing dengue prevention measures as the country continues to record deaths and localized outbreaks.

"Vaccination remains one of the most effective and vital public health tools for preventing infectious diseases, achieving community protection and saving lives," Gloriani said in a statement Sunday, August 23.

The call was echoed by Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Executive Director Lulu Bravo and Rontgene Solante, head of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit at San Lazaro Hospital.

Nationwide dengue cases have declined substantially from last year, but outbreaks persist in several parts of the country.

The Department of Health recorded 93,155 dengue cases from January 4 to August 1, down 46% from 174,077 during the same period in 2025. Dengue deaths also fell to 386 from 699.

Still, health experts said the threat is still serious despite the easing numbers. "We have already lost over 300 Filipinos this year alone to this disease, while communities in different parts of the country are experiencing outbreaks," Bravo said.

Central Luzon recorded the most cases with 16,057, followed by the National Capital Region with 10,611 and Calabarzon with 10,320.

DOH said 13 areas breached the epidemic threshold during the four-week period from July 5 to August 1: Mandaluyong, Lapu-Lapu and Zamboanga cities, and the provinces of Abra, Agusan del Sur, Albay, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Davao Oriental, La Union, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Breaching the threshold indicates dengue activity has risen beyond the expected level and requires urgent public health action.

Cebu and Mandaue cities and Davao de Oro, meanwhile, breached the alert threshold, an early warning for local governments and health authorities to strengthen preparedness and surveillance.

Solante said the nationwide decline should also be viewed against the Philippines' historically high dengue burden.

"The country has ranked among the countries with the highest number of dengue cases for several years. Dengue is endemic here so we have to recognize that the baseline burden itself is already high," Solante said.

Vaccine under review

One such vaccine, Qdenga, or TAK-003, is developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda. It has been prequalified by the World Health Organization and authorized in more than 40 countries.

WHO recommends the vaccine for children aged 6 to 16 in areas with high dengue transmission. It is given in two doses three months apart.

In June, Malacañang said the FDA was still reviewing Takeda's application to register Qdenga in the Philippines. The company applied for the drug's registration in the Philippines in April 2023.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, citing the Department of Health, said regulators were examining data showing lower vaccine efficacy among children aged 4 to 5 compared with those aged 6 and older.

She also cited concerns over the potential risk of severe dengue from serotype 3 among vaccinated people who had not previously been infected with dengue.

"Sabi rin kasi ng datos na hindi maisasantabi ang maaaring mas magkaroon ng malalang dengue serotype 3 sa mga nabakunahang hindi pa nagka-dengue dati. Sa ating bansa, dengue serotype 3 ang madalas na kumakalat," Castro said.

("The data also show that the possibility of more severe dengue from serotype 3 among vaccinated people who have not previously had dengue cannot be disregarded. In our country, dengue serotype 3 commonly circulates.")

WHO does not currently recommend routine use of Qdenga among children younger than 6 because of lower efficacy in that age group.

It also recommends its use in settings with high dengue transmission, noting that the potential risk from serotypes 3 and 4 among people without prior dengue infection has not yet been fully assessed.

Gloriani said continuing dengue deaths should strengthen efforts to find additional ways of reducing the disease burden.

"We cannot simply accept these deaths as something that inevitably happens every rainy season," she said.