01/09/2026 | Frederico Feijó | GZH Zona Sul

https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/zona-sul/saude/noticia/2026/01/ufpel-recruta-voluntarios-para-estudo-de-vacina-contra-a-dengue-cmk70eyhp01xc011h0i5uj7nv.html 

The study will be conducted at the Clinical Research Center of the Teaching Hospital and is seeking participants between the ages of 40 and 79.

The Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas (HE-UFPel) has begun recruiting volunteers for a clinical study of a dengue vaccine, which will be developed at the institution's Clinical Research Center. The initiative is part of efforts to support the Unified Health System (SUS), with a focus on disease prevention and strengthening scientific production.

The study, identified as DEN-04, aims to evaluate a new dengue vaccine and is recruiting people between the ages of 40 and 79. Participation is voluntary and intended for residents of the region interested in contributing to the advancement of science and public health.

To participate, interested parties must complete a clinical study interest form. Based on this registration, the Clinical Research Center team forms a database of potential volunteers and conducts an initial screening, with interviews and consultations, to verify that candidates meet the criteria defined in the protocols. After this stage, selected participants are contacted to receive guidance on the next phases of the research.

In addition to DEN-04, HE-UFPel plans to start a new clinical study in the coming months. The project, called Codenchik, will evaluate the co-administration of vaccines against dengue and chikungunya and is expected to recruit volunteers between the ages of 18 and 59.

For Rosiane Mastelari, head of the Research Management Sector at HE-UFPel, conducting these studies reinforces the hospital's role as a space for teaching, research, and care.

“Conducting clinical research at HE-UFPel strengthens our commitment to the production of scientific knowledge and direct support for the SUS, especially on priority issues such as arboviruses,” she says.

The research follows strict ethical and scientific protocols, ensuring the safety of volunteers and the reliability of the data collected. Participation represents an opportunity to collaborate directly with the advancement of knowledge in a context of increasing circulation of arboviruses in Brazil.

Butantan vaccine tested at HE
In addition to ongoing studies, Brazil already has a national vaccine against dengue fever, developed by the Butantan Institute. The Ministry of Health has decided that national vaccination with the single-dose vaccine, Butantan DV, will begin on January 18, initially in Botucatu (SP), Maranguape (CE), and Nova Lima (MG). The strategy calls for accelerated vaccination, with a goal of reaching between 40% and 50% of the population in these cities.

In the first stage, primary health care professionals will be vaccinated, and then immunization will be gradually expanded to the population, starting with people aged 59 and over, until reaching the 15-year-old age group.