THE dengue vaccine It began to be applied by the Unified Health System in February 2024. After a year of the campaign start, the Ministry of Health reported that in the first two months of 2025, the cases fell by almost 70% compared to the same period last year.
The folder monitoring panel points out that there have been 493,000 probable cases of the disease since December 29, 2024, 217 confirmed deaths and 477 investigation deaths.
With the significant increase in dengue cases, vaccination has become one of the main strategies to contain the disease. Brazil was the first country in the world to incorporate the immunizer against dengue into the public health system, gradually expanding immunization in municipalities with higher incidence of the virus.
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Who can get the dengue vaccine?
The qdenga vaccine, used in Brazil, is approved for people from 4 to 60 years. In SUS, immunization is a priority for young people aged 10 to 14 years, in municipalities with high transmission of the disease and predominance of the DenV-2 serotype.
In February 2025, the Ministry of Health published a technical note allowing the temporary expansion of the target audience. According to the orientation:
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- Doses up to two months for maturity can be sent to new municipalities or applied to people aged 6 to 16;
- Doses with a remaining month can be administered to people from 4 to 59 years old, as specified in the vaccine leaflet.
The immunizer is not suitable for pregnant women, lactating people, people with allergies to their components or immunosuppressed individuals.
They can receive the vaccine both people who have had dengue and those who have never infected.
Low adherence to vaccination
In 2024, the Ministry of Health sent 6.5 million doses to states and municipalities, but only 3.3 million were applied. Among the adolescents, 1.3 million began the vaccination scheme, but did not return to the second dose, reducing the effectiveness of protection.
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Read more: Ministry of Health recommends expanding a target audience of dengue vaccination
To increase adherence, the government guided states and municipalities to intensify the active search, identifying and mobilizing those who have not yet completed immunization.
Health plans cover the dengue vaccine?
The National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) clarifies that health plans are not required to cover the dengue vaccine. However, some contracts include immunizations as an additional benefit.
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“Plans are not required to cover the dengue vaccine. There are some plans that depend on the general conditions, with additives of vaccine service coverage. So each beneficiary has to check if it has this additional, but, as a rule, is not required to cover,” explains Caio Henrique Fernandes, partner of Vilhena Silva Advogados.
In the private network, there are two available vaccine options:
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- Qdengawhich protects against the four serotypes of the virus;
- Dengvaxiafrom the Sanofi laboratory, indicated only for those who have had dengue.
The cost of immunization ranges from $ 400 to $ 500 per dose. Health plans beneficiaries should verify with their operators the possibility of total or partial reimbursement.
