Brazil suspends dengue vaccine rollout after three serious cases among health workers

The Ministry of Health reported three severe adverse events following the administration of the dengue vaccine developed by Instituto Butantan to primary‑care health professionals. Two of the cases resulted in death and a third patient required intensive‑care treatment before recovering. These incidents are part of a total of 42 serious reactions recorded among roughly 500,000 doses given nationwide, prompting a temporary suspension of the vaccination program while investigators from the Ministry, ANVISA, Butantan and independent experts examine the data.

The majority of the doses—about 417,000—were given to doctors, nurses, community health agents and other primary‑care staff, who are considered at higher risk of dengue exposure. Separate mass‑vaccination campaigns in Botucatu (SP), Nova Lima (MG), Maranguape (CE) and Araguaína (TO) involved around 83,000 people aged 15‑59, but none of the three serious cases occurred in those locations. The suspension is intended to allow a thorough pharmacovigilance review before any further rollout.