Vaccine Eligibility & Recommendations

People without previous dengue infection

In people who have not had dengue before, the vaccine could increase the risk of hospitalization or severe dengue if a person gets dengue after vaccination.

• If you vaccinate a person who has never been infected with dengue virus, they skip the first, natural infection.
• If the person is then infected after vaccination, they will experience an infection that is similar to the second dengue virus infection, which poses the highest risk for severe disease.
• The mechanism causing greater severity of the second dengue virus infection includes antibody-dependent enhancement, which can lead to plasma leakage and severe disease.

People with previous dengue infections

• If you vaccinate a child who has been previously infected with dengue virus, the child skips the second dengue virus infection.
• If infected after vaccination, the child will experience an infection that is similar to the third or fourth dengue virus infection, which are the lowest risk for severe disease.
• Children and adolescents 9–16 years old with laboratory confirmation of previous dengue virus infection and living in dengue-endemic areas are eligible for the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.