The Takeda dengue vaccine is a solution long awaited by many for decades. Many experts have tried to come up with a vaccine that could finally defend the human population from dengue fever. This deadly disease has claimed many lives, most of which belong to parts of the world that have poor sanitary conditions. The Takeda dengue vaccine can change lives now that it is approved.
The Go Signal
It was announced last October that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends approving a vaccine for dengue. The said vaccine was manufactured by Takeda for individuals at least four years of age. The need for this vaccine has been a priority in many medical circles. This is due to the increasing number of fatalities from this mosquito-borne disease.
What Dengue Is
This mosquito-borne disease thrives in subtropical and tropical areas around the world. Scientists say that the four related variants of this disease initiate mild symptoms. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all. This happens in at least 80% of infected people. In some cases, dengue becomes severe.
Takeda is aware that dengue is a deadly virus. Severe dengue has symptoms, such as vomiting, organ impairment, and bleeding. This is the leading cause of sickness and fatalities in about 130 countries. More than 70% of these cases are in Asia. There has been a dramatic increase in dengue cases in the last two decades. The World Health Organization says that there are almost 400 million dengue cases every year. Around 100 million of them show signs and symptoms. This disease leads to 25,000 deaths each year. Most of these patients are children.
This vaccine from Takeda was tested in 19 trials. The studies included at least 27,000 participants aged 15 months old to 60 years old. The trials prevented severe disease, fever, as well as hospitalization. Dengue is known to bring about these symptoms.
The findings also reveal that the Takeda vaccine is more effective for patients at least 45 years of age and children than Dengvaxia (approved by Mexico’s health ministry back in 2015). The Dengvaxia vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur actually increased the severity of dengue in children who had the infection for the first time. The Associated Press said that the vaccine was linked to the deaths of about a hundred kids.
More About the Takeda Dengue Vaccine
Like any medication, the Takeda dengue vaccine has side effects. It causes a general feeling of unwellness, injection site pain, muscle aches, and headaches. EMA said that so far, the vaccine has only been approved in Indonesia.
The Takeda dengue vaccine prevented 61% of symptomatic dengue cases and 84% of hospitalized dengue cases. There were no risks pointed out. This included seronegative and seropositive patients through 54 months after the vaccination.
Dengue is a deadly disease. At least half of the population is vulnerable to dengue. That is why preventing this disease is crucial. Although dengue seems to be part of many lives, it is an important step to fight the disease. The Takeda dengue vaccine is a true addition to the current arsenal against dengue.
Also known as TAK-003, the Takeda dengue vaccine is from a live-attenuated virus serotype 2, which is the backbone for all four vaccines. It was able to induce immune system responses against all the four dengue virus serotypes. This persisted 48 months after vaccination. The vaccine was well-tolerated and safe.
The Takeda dengue vaccine has changed the state of the world’s fight against the disease. It could be the vital solution everyone has been waiting for after Dengvaxia’s setback. Dengue is a deadly ailment. Hopefully, the more effective vaccines there are, the higher the survival rate will be.
