Dengue is an emerging viral pathogen of growing global importance, infecting up to 100 million people annually. Although there have been many efforts over the last six decades to produce a vaccine to combat this infection, few have been able to meet the challenges posed by the unusual interplay between this virus and its human host. However, recent progress in molecular-based vaccine strategies, as well as a renewed commitment by the World Health Organisation to co-ordinate global efforts on vaccine development, finally provides hope that control of this serious disease may be at hand.