Takeda prioritizes dengue vaccine for Brazilian public health system
The Japanese Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, which produces the dengue vaccine (Qdenga), issued a statement on Monday (Feb. 5) announcing its decision to prioritize meeting the Brazilian Ministry of Health's requests for immunizers. According to the declaration, Takeda has suspended the signing of direct contracts with states and municipalities. Additionally, the company will limit the supply of the vaccine in the private network to ensure an adequate quantity for individuals who have received the first dose to complete their vaccination schedule with the second dose, after a three-month interval.
According to the company, the measure was taken in response to the inclusion of Qdenga in Brazil’s public healthcare network, the SUS, and the worsening dengue epidemic in various regions of Brazil.
"In line with the principle of health equity, Takeda is committed to supporting health authorities by focusing its efforts on meeting the Ministry of Health's demand, in accordance with the vaccination strategy outlined by the Department of the National Immunization Program (DPNI). This strategy considers age groups and regions for vaccine distribution. As previously announced, we have ensured the delivery of 6.6 million doses for 2024 and the provision of an additional 9 million doses for 2025. Meanwhile, we are exploring all possible solutions to increase the number of available doses in the country, and we are dedicated to this endeavor," stated the company.
The decision does not compromise commitments previously made with municipalities before the inclusion of Qdenga in the SUS, the company emphasized.
According to the pharmaceutical company, the global supply of the Qdenga vaccine is expected to reach 100 million doses per year by 2030. This goal encompasses the establishment of a new international center dedicated to vaccine production in Germany, scheduled to be launched in 2025.
Vaccination
The Qdenga vaccine was granted registration approval by Brazil’s national drug regulator Anvisa in March 2023. This authorization permits the product to be marketed in Brazil, provided that the approved conditions are upheld. In December, the Ministry of Health announced the vaccine's incorporation into the country’s public healthcare network, the SUS.
Next week, the doses will begin to be distributed to 521 municipalities selected by the Ministry of Health to begin vaccination in the Brazilian public health system. The cities make up a total of 37 health regions which, according to the ministry, are considered endemic for the disease. The vaccination will target children and adolescents aged 10 to 14, a demographic with the second-highest number of dengue-related hospitalizations, following only the elderly.
Epidemic
Brazil is facing an explosion in dengue cases, prompting the Federal District and three states, along with the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, to declare a state of emergency due to the disease. On Friday (3), the Ministry of Health inaugurated the Emergency Operations Center (COE) for dengue in Brasília.
