The public should get dengue vaccinations, which work better for those who have already been exposed to the virus, Assoc Prof Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand, has advised.
Dr Tawee said dengue vaccinations, first introduced into private hospitals in Thailand last year, are crucial in curbing sickness and death in the country.
The cost for one injection stands at 2,000 baht for the manufacturer, he said, adding the actual price per injection may differ depending on the hospital.
Assoc Prof Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
Dr Tawee said people aged 9-45 are eligible for the vaccinations.
The vaccination process requires three separate injections, each scheduled six months apart.
The injections will increase immunity against all four strains of dengue present in Thailand, he said.
Dr Tawee said those who have had all three injections have shown significant improvements in their immunity against dengue, citing a study conducted on 30,000 people vaccinated with Dengvaxia, the first registered dengue vaccine, over the course of six years.
The study, according to Dr Tawee, found the vaccines had prevented infection in an estimated 65% of the cases, and reduced the severity of the disease by 93%.
The vaccines also proved to be 80% effective in reducing the need for dengue patients to be hospitalised, he said.
According to the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, there were over 29,000 reported dengue cases in Thailand from Jan 1 to Aug 16.
The faculty also reported that 24 deaths from dengue occurred in those aged 15 and above, with 17 deaths registered among those younger than 15. In 2015, dengue fever claimed 141 lives in Thailand, with more than 142,000 people being infected.
The leading causes of death include a delay in seeking medical attention, previous health complications, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without a prescription.
Dean of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Assoc Prof Pratap Singhasivanon, said that while the number of deaths from dengue has decreased due to medical advances, the number of dengue patients is still increasing, so a better response is still needed. He said 75% of dengue cases are asymptomatic.
Dr Pratap said Thailand has spent more than 290-million baht in treating dengue, making it the second highest spender in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
Breeding grounds for mosquitoes, such as garden pools, are common around homes in Thailand, he said.
Dr Pratap said that reducing sickness and mortality rates from dengue is a "collective responsibility" for both the public and the government. "We want people to understand the scope of the situation," he said.
"If everyone is aware that this same mosquito can transmit dengue as well as other viruses such as Zica, we can prevent these losses more efficiently."
Dr Tawee said 18 countries have introduced dengue vaccinations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brazil.
Mexico became the first country to register for the vaccinations in late 2015, with the Philippines introducing them in early 2016.
