SINGAPORE – The highly anticipated Sanofi dengue vaccine has been conducted among 1,200 patients here in Singapore in its Phase II clinical trial, and follow-up on the patients is ongoing in hospitals.

In parliament today (Sept 9), Parliamentary Secretary (Health and Transport) Associate Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said that while a dengue vaccine could potentially help reduce dengue cases here, it is still too early to definitively assess the effects of the vaccine.

In fact, results from two large scale Phase III studies, conducted in Asia and South America, showed lower efficacy against dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2, which are the commonest types found in Singapore, he said.

Reports have also showed that while past infection with one serotype confers immunity and protection against that serotype, it could lead to more serious diseases if an infection with a different serotype occurs.

“More study is needed to ascertain whether similarly, incomplete protection from vaccination could potentially result in the risk of more severe infection from serotypes which the vaccine protects poorly against.

“To reduce the number of dengue cases, other measures such as reducing the number of mosquito breeding sites and using mosquito repellents continue to play an important part,” he said.