Scientific consultation on immunological correlates of protection induced by dengue vaccines - Report from a meeting held at the World Health Organization 17-18 November 2005

Several dengue vaccine candidates have been evaluated in early clinical phase, and some are scheduled for efficacy testing in population-based studies. Given the advancements in dengue vaccine development, there is an increased interest in identifying immunological correlates of protection for these vaccines in order to facilitate their evaluation, further refinement, production and registration. To this end, the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR) convened a consultation on primary and secondary immunological correlates of protection induced by dengue vaccines. The meeting was held on the 17th and 18th of November, 2005 at WHO headquarters in Geneva. The consultation was a first dedicated review of the available data in support of establishing correlates. It is concluded that it is not yet possible to define one specific set of correlates, the consultation concluded in recommendations that should help to gather the missing evidence in conjunction with future vaccine trials.