Dengue fever has been a public health crisis for decades, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, and India has been one of the worst-hit countries in recent years. With rising cases and fatal outbreaks, the country has required a reliable and inexpensive vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease. That changed with the launch of DengiAll, India's indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine. After all these years of research, trials, and international collaboration, the vaccine is now in the last stage of testing, and a breakthrough seems at hand.Developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Panacea Biotech, DengiAll will be a game-changer for India's battle against dengue. The vaccine is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, which are being conducted at 19 sites in 18 states and union territories with more than 10,335 healthy volunteers enrolled so far. The trials have shown promising results, with earlier phases (1 and 2) being successful for the vaccine to combat dengue across various strains.The significance of the vaccine is not just its possibility in dengue prevention but also that it's an indigenous development, carefully crafted to fulfill India's needs. Balram Bhargava, former Director General of ICMR, who has played a key role in India's fight against COVID-19, ensured that India's first indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine will be in the market by mid-2026—a landmark moment for India's health sector.Dengue fever, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is one of the most common vector-borne diseases in India, especially prevalent during the monsoon season between May and September. The disease is characterized by fever, severe headache, joint pains, and sudden drop in platelet levels. It can, in severe cases, progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which will prove fatal without urgent medical treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the worldwide incidence of dengue has grown eight times greater than two decades ago, thus emerging as a public health issue of major concern.DengiAll is a tetravalent vaccine, and it has the goal of protecting against all four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). This is a significant feature since dengue is a multi-serotype disease, and immunity to one serotype will not protect against others. In protecting against all four serotypes, the vaccine provides broad protection, which is extremely important in a country like India, where outbreaks are ever-present and in large part unpredictable.The vaccine development is based on the TV003/TV005 strain, which was originally developed by the United States' National Institutes of Health (NIH). The strain was licensed to Panacea Biotech, a top Indian pharma company, and was adapted for domestic use. The company has achieved significant milestones in re-developing the vaccine to meet the specific needs of the Indian population, for whom it holds a process patent for development.Highest Number of Cases Recorded In IndiaApproximately 188,401 cases were identified in 2017, with 325 deaths. Highest number of infections was reported from Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, then Punjab and West Bengal. In the 20th century, there was the significant rise in number of infections reported in 2003, 2010, 2012, and 2013, with an exponential increase beginning in 2015 onwards. During this time, repeated dengue outbreaks were reported in states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal. In 2017, dengue cases were to be the highest in India. India, in particular, has experienced frequent outbreaks in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The outbreaks have claimed thousands of lives and loaded the healthcare system with a great burden. Over 5 million cases of dengue have been reported to date as of 2023, with the Indian contribution playing a significant role in the surge. Since DengiAll is presently in its final stages of trials, the vaccine is set to reduce significantly the incidence of dengue and its complications in the country.Why Dengue Cases Are On A Steady Rise?Although India has been battling with dengue for years now, the illness has also been on the rise globally. The WHO states that the number of dengue cases reported globally has grown over twice in the past few years, with a total of 10.6 million cases having been reported thus far in the year 2024 alone. The growth is driven by various factors:Warm, humid temperatures offer ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.Overcrowded cities with poor waste management infrastructure facilitate the disease transmission.Increased international travel has led to dengue's expansion into non-endemic areas.There is no cure for dengue known at the moment. It is treated with supportive care—hydration, management of fever, and close attention to platelet levels. If it is severe, hospitalization is required, and there are concerns regarding the burden this causes to the health system, especially in low-resource settings.The presence of a dengue vaccine like DengiAll would be a welcome preventive. While a vaccine would not replace effective measures for mosquito control, it could be an extra tool in the public health arsenal, significantly reducing the number of severe cases and fatalities.When Will Dengue Vaccine Hit the Market?So far, DengiAll is in Phase 3 trials, and although it shows a great deal of promise, it should be kept in mind that the final approval phase could take time. If the ongoing trials continue to progress well, it is hoped that the vaccine would become available by mid-2026. This is a rough estimate, though, as it includes successful completion of the clinical trials and regulatory approvals.Signs and Symptoms of Dengue FeverSymptoms of dengue fever typically appear 4 to 10 days from the time of a bite from an infected mosquito and persist for 3 to 7 days. Asymptomatic cases are most common, but about 1 in 20 individuals will experience severe dengue when the initial symptoms start to resolve. Typical symptoms of dengue fever are:High feverRashSevere pain behind the eyesNausea and vomitingMuscle, bone, and joint painIf you notice any of these symptoms, it is imperative that you receive medical care immediately, particularly if the symptoms are increasing.How Does Vaccine Affects Dengue Treatment?The DengiAll vaccine, India’s pioneering tetravalent dengue vaccine developed by Panacea Biotec, targets all four dengue serotypes, offering a preventive approach that could revolutionize dengue management. Dr. Divya Gopal, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai says, "Currently in Phase 3 trials with over 10,000 participants, it may reach markets by mid-2026 if successful. Unlike existing treatments, which focus on symptom management due to the absence of specific antivirals, DengiAll aims to reduce infection rates and disease severity, potentially lowering hospitalization and mortality, particularly during monsoon seasons. By shifting focus to prevention, DengiAll could ease the burden on healthcare systems and complement vector control efforts, significantly altering India’s dengue response strategy."