Reasons to Get Vaccinated

For children who test positive for previous dengue infection, a dengue vaccine can protect against future dengue infections or from getting severe disease.
Dengue is common in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and freely associated states including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
- The risk of getting dengue while living on the islands is high. In Puerto Rico, about half of children 9–16 years old have had dengue before and would be eligible for the vaccine.
Dengue can be caused by any of the four dengue types: dengue 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- People can be infected with dengue multiple times in their life.
Dengue can be life threatening.
There is no medicine to treat dengue. Mild symptoms can be treated at home. Severe dengue requires hospitalization.
- Children are at the highest risk of hospitalization with the second dengue infection.
- Every dengue infection has a risk of hospitalization and severe illness.
If not treated, severe dengue can lead to death.

The vaccine provides years of protection

We are still learning about how long the vaccine protects children. To date, we know that the vaccine can provide protection against dengue for at least 6 years.
Over time, we will learn more about how long vaccine protection lasts.

Talk to your child’s healthcare provider to find out if your child is eligible for a dengue vaccine.