On the occasion of the start of dengue vaccination in Colombia
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSPS) announced the start of the phased introduction of the dengue vaccine within the national immunization schedule, aiming to reduce dengue-related morbidity and mortality in the country.
The measure, implemented since February 14, prioritizes territories with high endemicity (a constant presence of dengue cases in the area) and initially focuses on girls and boys aged 9 years or those enrolled in fourth grade in 2026, as well as vaccination personnel and teams working in the control of vector-borne diseases.
This decision responds to Law 2406 of 2024, which mandates the permanent modernization of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). It also follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the guidance of the National Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (CNPI), based on technical and scientific evidence.
The selected vaccine is Qdenga®, also known as TAK-003, developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceuticals. It is a tetravalent biological product that protects against the four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). This vaccine has been prequalified by the WHO (since 2024) and holds sanitary registration from Invima, with reported efficacy ranging from approximately 60% to 97%, showing greater protection in individuals who have previously had dengue.
At the launch of the strategy, 700 doses were administered in vaccination provider institutions (IPS) across prioritized municipalities. Colombia thus becomes the fourth country in South America to move forward with a phased introduction of this vaccine, strengthening its national immunization schedule, which currently protects against more than 30 diseases.
Links of interest
https://extranet.who.int/prequal/vaccines/p/qdengar?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Author
Gerhard M Acero
ESP epidemiologist
Pulication date: 23/02/2026
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