BRIN: Risk Of Living In A Tropical Country, DHF Vaccine Is Something Mandatory For The Community

Photo Illustration: Antara

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has proposed that the government oblige the administration of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) vaccines to the public.

Vaccine Development Research Center Research and Drugs BRIN Health Research Organization Doddy Irawan Setyo Utomo said this was because Indonesia was included in a tropical climate that became the habitat for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito carrying the plague.

"Almost every year there are cases, because this is a risk for us to live in a tropical country. It is better if the dengue vaccine can be used as something that is mandatory for the community," said Doddy, quoting Antara, Sunday, October 15.

He conveyed that giving vaccines can be prioritized for vulnerable groups such as children under the age of 9, as well as the elderly (elderly).

Although it does not rule out infections that attack people at productive age, it is a life threat, so it can take advantage of vaccines to prevent critical cases.

Doddy assessed that giving vaccines is one of the prevention and effective treatment, because from the vaccines given, the body has a memory of the virus that will attack.

In addition, he said that the administration of the DHF vaccine could use products that were already available in Indonesia, such as the Dengvaxia vaccine developed by the Sanofi Pasteur company, and the Qdenga vaccine developed by the Takeda pharmaceutical company.

"Although the vaccine is still buying, I think this is not a problem using it at first, while waiting for the development from Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, referring to data from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), until July 2023, the number of cases of dengue virus infection reached 35,694 cases.