Dengue Fever Vaccination Service

About dengue fever

While Dengue Fever is commonly associated with tropical regions, the global landscape of infectious diseases is evolving, and the UK is not immune to these shifts. Dengue Fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection, has increasingly become a matter of concern even in non-endemic regions, including the United Kingdom, with the presence of the Aedes mosquito in some areas of the UK raising awareness about the potential risk.

Prevention plays a pivotal role in combating the spread of dengue, and vaccination is a crucial aspect of proactive healthcare. Understanding the risks and adopting preventive measures are essential in safeguarding communities against this potentially debilitating disease. The Dengue Fever vaccine is not recommended in the UK for individuals with no previous dengue infection. 

Important Information

Following dengue infection, there is short-lived cross-protection against all serotypes. For this reason, consideration should be given to delaying the administration of a Qdenga® vaccination for a period of one year after a laboratory-confirmed infection. Vaccination is also usually not recommended if the traveller has not had a previous dengue infection. However, in exceptional circumstances, vaccination with Qdenga® can be considered in those who have not had dengue in the past, and specialist advice should be sought instead.

How can you get dengue fever?

Dengue Fever is primarily transmitted from human to human through the bite of infected mosquitoes, mainly the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates. The mosquitoes breed in water containers (including buckets used to collect rainwater, cisterns, toilets and tyres) and rest in cool, dark rooms. In forests, they breed in water-filled tree holes. They are most active during daylight hours, when they feed from dawn to dusk, but can bite at night in well-lit areas. 

In parts of Asia and Africa, the transmission cycle may also involve jungle primates that act as a reservoir for the virus, and reports of sexual transmission are very rare. Unlike some other infectious diseases, dengue fever is not directly transmitted from person to person. The virus must go through the mosquito as a vector to complete its transmission cycle. Factors such as urbanisation, inadequate sanitation, and water storage practices contribute to the proliferation of mosquito breeding sites, increasing the risk of dengue transmission in affected areas.