"We estimate that in Mexico and in other countries that the benefits will outweigh the costs of the (vaccine) intervention," he said.The company will have a "fair policy throughout the world and affordable for health authorities. "Zika vaccineMexico was the first country in the world to give regulatory approval to the vaccine in December last year. "Developing a vaccine against Zika will be easier after developing a vaccine against dengue," Leroy said, noting that the viruses share genetic similarities. "We are tracking each child" to look for any sign of dengue or side effects, Tayag said.Some scientists have voiced concerns about studies showing that the vaccine could give dengue to people who have never had the virus.Scott Halstead, founder of the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative, told AFP that the WHO was "being hasty" in recommending the vaccine and that people should be tested to see if they have had dengue before being vaccinated. "It’s not ethical to give a vaccine that harms someone," Halstead said.But Leroy noted that Dengvaxia, in addition to the WHO’s green light, is getting approval from government health regulators.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 10, 2016 02:37 UTC