Establishing an East African Clinical Trials Platform for the Evaluation of Dengue Vaccines

Dengue virus remains a major and growing public health threat in East Africa, where persistent transmission and recurrent seasonal outbreaks have been reported across multiple countries. All four dengue virus serotypes circulate within the region, and available seroprevalence studies demonstrate exposure rates exceeding 60% in some affected communities, highlighting substantial population-level risk

Despite the availability of two licensed dengue vaccines and World Health Organization recommendations for their use in specific populations, there remains limited evidence on vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness in East African settings. Consequently, no regional dengue vaccination policies currently exist, creating a critical evidence gap for public health decision-making.

The Qdenga vaccine has demonstrated efficacy against all four dengue serotypes in large clinical trials conducted in Asia and Latin America and is currently recommended by WHO for use in children aged 6–16 years in high-burden settings. However, its performance in East African populations remains unknown.
 

This project, in which BNITM is a co-applicant, aims to establish the clinical trial platform required to evaluate Qdenga vaccine use in East Africa through harmonised protocols, laboratory strengthening, infrastructure development, and regional capacity building for future vaccine trials and policy implementation. The programme will also strengthen regional preparedness for evidence-based dengue prevention, surveillance, and vaccine introduction strategies.

Partners: 

• Uganda Virus Research Institute (coordinator)
• BNITM, co-applicant
• Makerere University, co-applicant

Funders: The Wellcome Trust