Dengue (Qdenga) vaccine in West Hampstead London Travel Clinic

Dengue (Qdenga) vaccine in West Hampstead, at a glance

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by four related dengue virus serotypes and spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day. It causes flu-like illness with high fever, intense joint and muscle pain, headache and rash. A small proportion of cases develop severe dengue, which can be life-threatening. Qdenga is a live attenuated tetravalent vaccine licensed in the UK for people aged four and over. The course is two doses, three months apart. Two doses give substantial protection against symptomatic dengue and very high protection against severe disease.

Who needs the dengue vaccine?

NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro recommends Qdenga be considered for travellers aged four and over heading to dengue-endemic regions, particularly those with longer trips (more than two weeks), those visiting friends and family, those travelling repeatedly to endemic regions, and those travelling during the rainy season. Destinations where transmission is significant include Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and much of the Caribbean and Central America. UK travellers planning a season in Bali, a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, or a visit to family in South Asia or Latin America are the most common candidates we see.

Schedule and doses

The course is two doses, given three months apart. You should aim to complete the first dose at least three weeks before travel where possible, although protection begins to develop earlier. The second dose is essential for durable immunity, particularly against the dengue 3 and dengue 4 serotypes. If you cannot complete the full course before departure, a single dose still gives meaningful protection against severe disease, and we will schedule your second dose for completion on your return. Qdenga can be given regardless of whether you have had dengue before, which is an important advantage over the older dengue vaccine.

Destinations and combinations

Qdenga pairs naturally with hepatitis A, typhoid, japanese encephalitis and rabies, which are the typical travel vaccines for the same regions. With other live vaccines such as yellow fever, MMR and varicella, it is either given on the same day or separated by four weeks. We will plan the schedule around your itinerary.

Side effects and contraindications

Side effects are usually mild: sore arm, headache, muscle pain, mild fever or fatigue for one to three days. Because Qdenga is a live vaccine, it is not given during pregnancy or breastfeeding, to people with significant immune suppression, or to anyone with a confirmed severe allergy to a previous dose or vaccine component. Pregnancy should be avoided for one month after vaccination. Mosquito-bite avoidance (DEET repellent, covering up at dawn and dusk, sleeping under a net where appropriate) remains essential even after vaccination, as no vaccine gives 100% protection and the same mosquitoes can carry chikungunya and Zika. Your pharmacist will check your suitability at the appointment.

Book your appointment

Aqua Travel Clinic is at 59 Mill Lane, West Hampstead NW6 1NB, four minutes from West Hampstead station. The clinic is operated by Aqua Pharmacy (GPhC premises 1123406), part of Naspram Pharma Limited. All consultations are supervised by Superintendent Pharmacist Sanjay Mukundkumar Patel (GPhC 2045157). Book a Qdenga appointment online or call us. Most travellers are seen the same week.