Vaccine Eligibility & Recommendations

Key points

  • Dengue is a disease caused by four distinct, but closely related dengue viruses, DENV-1–4. People can be infected with dengue multiple times.
  • For people who have not had dengue before, the vaccine can increase the risk of severe infection.
  • Learn how dengue vaccine eligibility relates to previous infection and when vaccination is recommended.
Healthcare provider applying a bandage to a pediatric patient's arm.

People without previous dengue infection

In people who have not had dengue before, the vaccine could increase the risk of hospitalization or severe dengue if a person gets dengue after vaccination.

  • If you vaccinate a person who has never been infected with dengue virus, they skip the first, natural infection.
  • If the person is then infected after vaccination, they will experience an infection that is similar to the second dengue virus infection, which poses the highest risk for severe disease.
  • The mechanism causing greater severity of the second dengue virus infection includes antibody-dependent enhancement, which can lead to plasma leakage and severe disease.

Remember‎

DO NOT vaccinate a person without laboratory evidence of previous dengue virus infection.

People with previous dengue infections

  • If you vaccinate a child who has been previously infected with dengue virus, the child skips the second dengue virus infection.
  • If infected after vaccination, the child will experience an infection that is similar to the third or fourth dengue virus infection, which are the lowest risk for severe disease.
  • Children and adolescents 9–16 years old with laboratory confirmation of previous dengue virus infection and living in dengue-endemic areas are eligible for the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.
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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)