A survey of policymakers and other influential professionals in four southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam) was conducted to determine policymakers' views on the public health importance of
dengue fever and
dengue haemorrhagic
fever (DHF), the need for a
vaccine and the determinants influencing its potential introduction. The survey, which involved face-to-face interviews with policymakers, health programme managers, researchers, opinion leaders and other key informants, revealed an almost uniformly high level of concern about
dengue fever/DHF and a high perceived need for a
dengue vaccine. Several characteristics of the disease contribute to this high sense of priority, including its geographic spread, occurrence in outbreaks, the recurrent risk of
infection each
dengue season, its severity and the difficulty in diagnosis and management, its urban predominance, its burden on hospitals, and its economic toll on governments and families. Research felt to be key to future decision-making regarding
dengue vaccine introduction include: disease surveillance studies, in-country
vaccine trials or pilot projects, and studies on the economic burden of
dengue and the cost-effectiveness of
dengue vaccines. The results suggest favourable conditions for public and private sector markets for
dengue vaccines and the need for creative financing strategies to ensure their accessibility to poor children in
dengue-endemic countries.