We are taking part in a study showing that the dengue vaccine may be beneficial for travellers

A new study involving Dr Lluís Valero, a researcher at the Foundation for the Fight Against Infections, provides new evidence on the safety of the dengue vaccine in travellers from regions where the disease is not endemic.

The research, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) together with Hospital Clínic Barcelona and published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, analyses data from more than 1,000 people vaccinated in Catalonia with the TAK-003 vaccine.

The results show that the vaccine has a favourable safety profile and good tolerability under real-world clinical practice conditions. During participant follow-up, no serious adverse events were recorded, while the effects observed were mostly mild or moderate and decreased after the second dose.

Beyond these general findings, the analysis also identifies several factors associated with a higher risk of adverse reactions. In particular, female participants, those who had previously had dengue infection and those who received vaccines against other flaviviruses (such as yellow fever) at the same time were more likely to experience reactions. In women, these were mainly local reactions, whereas systemic reactions, such as fever, were more common in the other groups.

By contrast, the study found no increase in adverse reactions among people over 60 years of age or those with comorbidities, two groups for which evidence has so far been limited. Nor was there an increased risk of adverse effects when the vaccine was administered alongside other non-flavivirus vaccines. This supports its use in pre-travel consultations.

Nursing also plays a key role in the research

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the study is the direct involvement of nursing professionals in the research team. Specifically, two nurses from PROSICS Metro Nord are listed as co-authors of the study.

Their presence in a scientific publication of this impact is unusual and highlights the key role of nursing in clinical research, particularly in areas such as vaccination, patient follow-up and real-world data generation.

This contribution reinforces the Foundation’s research model, where clinical and research teams work in an integrated way to generate knowledge with a direct impact on clinical practice.

Key research for global health

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, present in more than 100 countries and with a growing global incidence. Factors such as climate change and increasing international travel are driving its spread, making this infection one of the leading causes of fever in people travelling to endemic areas.

In this context, having a safe vaccine is a key tool both to protect those at risk and to advance public health strategies.

Addressing a knowledge gap

Although the TAK-003 vaccine is the first authorised in Europe to prevent dengue, there is still limited evidence on its safety in people who do not live in endemic areas or in certain groups, such as those with underlying conditions or receiving multiple vaccines.

To address this, the study was carried out in several travel medicine centres in Catalonia, with a systematic follow-up of participants after each dose to identify potential adverse reactions.