Sorocaba Expands Dengue Vaccination to Ages 4-59
Sorocaba, Brazil, has significantly expanded its dengue vaccination program, now offering the Qdenga vaccine to residents aged 4 to 59 years. Previously, the vaccine was only available to children and adolescents between 10 and 14 years old. The expanded vaccination effort began on Wednesday, February 22nd, and will be administered across all 33 Basic Health Units in the municipality.
The Qdenga vaccine, manufactured by Takeda, is being used in this campaign. The health department advises that immunocompromised individuals should not receive the vaccine due to contraindications. Furthermore, individuals who have recently contracted dengue must wait six months before being eligible for immunization. As of the announcement on Tuesday, February 21st, Sorocaba had administered the first dose of the dengue vaccine to 25,912 people, achieving a 43.6% vaccination coverage. Over 14,000 individuals have already received their second dose.
Sorocaba has reported 73 dengue cases in 2026 with no fatalities, a stark contrast to 2025, which saw 11,800 cases and 31 deaths. Six of those who died in 2025 were within the newly eligible 5-49 age range. The expansion aims to bolster public health defenses against the mosquito-borne illness.
Sorocaba's decision to broaden dengue vaccination eligibility reflects a proactive public health strategy, acknowledging the widespread impact of the disease across a wider demographic. By extending coverage to individuals aged 4-59, the city aims to enhance community immunity and potentially mitigate future outbreaks, particularly given the high case numbers and fatalities recorded in the previous year. This move underscores the evolving approach to infectious disease management, leveraging available vaccines to protect a larger segment of the population. The initiative highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing vaccine accessibility with public health resources and the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptation of vaccination policies in response to epidemiological trends.
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