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. 2025 Jan 25;13(2):121.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines13020121.

A Methodological Approach to Measuring the Impact of TAK-003 for the Prevention of Dengue in Dourados, Brazil: Optimizing Strategies for Public Health

Benedetta Ghezzi  1 , Cristina Valencia  1 , Roberto Dias de Oliveira  2   3 , Daniel Tsuha  2 , Waldno Lucena Júnior  4 , Alberta Di Pasquale  5 , Morgan Mc Namara  1 , Juliana Senra  6 , Denise Abud  5 , Julio Croda  2
Affiliations

A Methodological Approach to Measuring the Impact of TAK-003 for the Prevention of Dengue in Dourados, Brazil: Optimizing Strategies for Public Health

Benedetta Ghezzi et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Takeda's tetravalent dengue vaccine TAK-003 has been approved by the Brazilian regulatory agency ANVISA for dengue disease prevention in individuals aged 4 to 60 years. Dourados, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, became the world's first city to implement a mass vaccination campaign targeting approximately 120,000 individuals. An ongoing collaborative, observational, population-based study using national surveillance and vaccination data was planned to measure the impact of the vaccine on the reduction in dengue incidence. Methods: In this manuscript, the study's methodology, including its programmatic steps and public health relevance, is described. A collaborative assessment with multidisciplinary researchers in Brazil was conducted to identify key programmatic areas for the successful implementation of the study. These areas included feasibility and site selection assessment, methodology selection, vaccination program implementation, and public health importance. Results/Conclusions: Identification of the public health problem and understanding the disease burden, local healthcare infrastructure, and strategic partnerships were critical for a robust feasibility assessment. One of the feasibility criteria identified was the ability of the Dourados Municipal Health Secretary and the principal investigator to conduct an active vaccination campaign, utilizing extramural activities and diverse communication channels to increase vaccine acceptance and coverage. The selection of analytical methods, such as time series analysis, was dependent on the national and local structures of the databases and data availability.

Keywords: TAK-003; dengue; methodology; public health; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

B.G., C.V., A.D.P., M.M.N., J.S., and D.A. are employees of Takeda and hold stock/stock options in Takeda. R.D.d.O., D.T., W.L.J., and J.C. received funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG. J.C. holds a position on the Brazilian Advisory Board for the Qdenga (TAK-003) vaccine, holds a position on the Takeda Global Dengue Steering Committee and has received honoraria for speaking at Takeda symposia.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Feasibility assessment process steps.
Figure 2
Figure 2
An overview of the controlled interrupted time series design. The target population is indicated in blue, and the control population is indicated in orange. Secular change refers to the long-term trend or pattern in disease incidence over an extended period, the counterfactual is the hypothetical scenario in which the target population did not receive the vaccine, level change refers to a sudden and significant shift in the measurable outcome, and trend change refers to a shift in the rate of change of a measurable outcome.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The incidence of confirmed dengue cases in the Dourados and Ponta Porã municipalities for the entire population between 2013 and 2023 [18].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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