If you have dengue fever, should you get vaccinated?

A week ago, I was discharged from the hospital after being treated for dengue fever. After that illness, I was very afraid of this disease because it made me feel very tired. Doctor, can you tell me if I have had dengue fever, is there a risk of getting it again? Should I get vaccinated against dengue fever again?

(Ms. Bich Hong, residing in Trang Dai ward, Bien Hoa city)

Doctor replied:

Hello Ms. Hong!

Dengue fever is a disease caused by the Dengue virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The Dengue virus has 4 different serotypes: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. Once infected with one type, the body will have lifelong immunity to that type, but not complete cross-immunity to the remaining types, so you can still get infected again if infected with another type. In fact, a second infection with a different type of Dengue can be more serious, because incomplete cross-immunity increases the inflammatory response in the body.

Regarding dengue vaccines, currently some vaccines such as Dengvaxia (Sanofi) and QDENGA (Takeda) have been approved for use in some countries. However, the indications for dengue vaccines are not the same as those for conventional vaccines. For example, Dengvaxia is only recommended for people who have been infected with dengue virus, while QDENGA can be used for people who have not had the disease.

In Vietnam, the use of this vaccine is still under review and limited implementation, and not everyone is eligible for vaccination. Therefore, you should go to a specialized medical facility for specific advice on your immune status and ability to be vaccinated. Even if you have had the disease, you should still proactively avoid mosquito bites, keep your living environment clean, and eliminate mosquito breeding sites to limit the risk of reinfection.

Wish you always healthy!

Master - Doctor Pham Thi Tam,

Internal Medicine Doctor, Ai Nghia Medical System

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/alo--bac-si-oi/202505/da-mac-sot-xuat-huyet-co-nen-tiem-ngua-vaccine-khong-1020357/