THE Eighth Asia Dengue Summit renewed its call for regional solidarity, science-based strategy, and shared responsibility in the fight against dengue fever.
The three-day summit, which opened Sunday in Manila, highlighted the urgency to confront a disease that continues to affect millions and strain public health systems across Asia.
Led by the Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA), the summit emphasized not just medical innovation but the need for restoring public trust in vaccines, strengthening surveillance systems, and enhancing community engagement to prevent the disease's spread.
The Philippines, often cited as ground zero for large-scale dengue immunization trials, has faced public skepticism stemming from past vaccine controversies. But according to Professor Lulu Bravo, ADVA advisor, recent studies show a resurgence in vaccine confidence, with the Philippines topping a 2023 multi-country survey on trust in dengue vaccines.
Bravo said that transparency, scientific communication, and community involvement are key to sustaining the trust for the next-generation dengue vaccines.
Professor Tikki Pangestu, one of the international advisors for ADVA, said the new vaccine is significantly safer and more effective than its controversial predecessor. "This second-generation vaccine has over four years of positive safety data. Unlike the first, it does not require pre-testing and can be administered more widely," Pangestu said.
One striking example came from San Pablo City, where Dr. Maria Rosario Capeding, chairman of the summit's organizing committee, led one of the earliest dengue vaccine trials.
Despite the national backlash over the earlier vaccine program, her community continued to participate in research, even volunteering for the country's first Covid-19 vaccine trials. "That's the level of trust we've built — not just in the science, but in the relationships with the people," Capeding said.
The health experts acknowledged persistent gaps in the Philippines' public health infrastructure, particularly in disease surveillance.
Speakers criticized the lack of timely and transparent data reporting, pointing out that even the World Health Organization's global dashboard shows no recent dengue data from the Philippines — in stark contrast to neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia.
"We cannot fight what we cannot see," said Bravo. "Dengue is a reportable disease. We need to do our part and report it."
The summit's panelists called on the media to be proactive in communicating facts and countering misinformation — a problem that severely undermined vaccine uptake in previous years.
Pangestu said vaccines "are always an emotional issue, especially when children are involved. That's why communication — not just what we say, but how we make people feel about what we say — is critical."
ADVA leaders stressed that eliminating dengue deaths by 2030 is possible, but only with sustained effort across governments, health care providers, private partners, and the public.
"This is not just a scientific issue — it's a matter of national will," said Professor Datuk Zulkifli Ismail, ADVA chairman. "We now have better tools, better data, and, most importantly, a better understanding of what works. Let's not wait for another outbreak. Let's act now."