Doctors to urge Marcos approval of new dengue vaccines

With dengue cases surging nationwide, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will urge President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to grant public access to new-generation dengue vaccines.

In a letter to be sent to Marcos, the PMA emphasized that dengue remains a major public health crisis, with the Philippines recording the highest number of cases and fatalities in Southeast Asia.

While acknowledging the government’s “5S” strategy against dengue, the PMA stressed the need for additional measures, including immunization.

“Despite these efforts, dengue remains to be a public health concern with rising cases all year round. We need to consider other innovative strategies available to address dengue,” the PMA said. 

Dr. Erica Tania Davillo, PMA AdHoc Committee on Dengue Advocacy chairperson, confirmed that the letter will be sent to Malacañang within the week. 

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Palace, which has yet to respond.

QDENGA approval

In 2024, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was reviewing QDENGA, a second-generation dengue vaccine developed by Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

However, approval remains pending.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, expressed concern over the delay, noting that vaccine licensing typically takes about a year.

“Kung maaalala niyo ‘yung Dengvaxia, from May to December, na-lisensyahan within six months. Ito (QDENGA), two years na, wala pa,” Bravo said during Tuesday's launch of the “End Dengue Coalition.”

(If you recall, Dengvaxia was licensed within six months, but QDENGA has been in the process for two years with no approval yet.)

She added that research on the new-generation vaccine has been ongoing for over a decade, raising questions about the prolonged delay.

In 2015, the Philippines became the first Asian country to approve Dengvaxia, the world’s first dengue vaccine. 

However, in 2017, manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur admitted that the vaccine could cause severe symptoms in individuals without prior dengue infection, prompting the FDA to suspend its sale and distribution.

Meanwhile, dengue cases in the Philippines have risen sharply in 2025, with 28,234 cases recorded as of February 1—a 40% increase from the same period last year. 

Cases rose by 8% in just two weeks, from 13,980 (Dec. 22 - Jan. 4) to 15,088 (Jan. 5 - Jan. 18).

The Quezon City government has already declared a dengue outbreak after at least 10 deaths, while the Department of Health (DOH) warns that eight more areas in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon may soon follow. 

Despite the rise in cases, the DOH maintains that the dengue case fatality rate remains at 0.35%.

READ: Why public should beware of dengue

— DVM, GMA Integrated News