The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to the public against the purchase and use of counterfeit versions of the dengue vaccine QdengaTM.

The agency clarified that the QdengaTM Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine (Live, Attenuated) powder for injection is not yet registered with the FDA, as its registration application is still under review.

Health experts noted that the application for Qdenga's registration was submitted in April 2023, making it the second dengue vaccine prequalified by the World Health Organization after Sanofi’s Dengvaxia in 2020.

The FDA emphasized that using counterfeit vaccines could pose serious health risks, urging healthcare professionals and the public to avoid these fake products.

The agency also directed local government units and law enforcement to prevent the sale or distribution of counterfeit vaccines in their jurisdictions.This advisory underscores the importance of verifying medical products to ensure public safety, especially during dengue outbreaks.