In a discussion with Forecasting Healthy Futures, Derek Wallace, president of Takeda’s Global Vaccine Business Unit, talks using science to better tackle the health impacts of climate change.
What are some of the ways that you see climate change impacting human health?
WALLACE: Climate change may have profound impacts on global health. For example, intensifying weather has the potential to disrupt food and water supply, posing a significant risk to nutrition. As the world continually warms, we’re seeing vector populations present for longer periods each year, increasing vector-borne disease all over the world. Imagine someone living in or travelling to an area where vector-borne disease is common. When they travel to an area without the disease but with the vector, they can seed that disease into the local vector population leading to local outbreaks in areas usually non-endemic to the disease. Historically this has occurred with yellow fever, which is why yellow fever vaccinations are crucial to prevent the reintroduction of the virus in places that are currently free from the disease.
We see similar dynamics with dengue. Local dengue outbreaks occurring in places like southern Florida are the result of somebody who might have travelled from another region bringing dengue to new areas where there are now established mosquito populations. As new areas become more conducive to vector growth, the concern is that we’ll see more diseases spread.
How can we help mitigate the impact of climate change? What role can scientists and researchers play?
WALLACE: First, it’s important to identify which areas are going to be most impacted by climate change and where these vector-borne diseases could expand to. With that said, the solution can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, climate change could make some areas drier, and thus mosquitoes could be less of an issue in those regions. Other areas, however, could see warmer, wetter climates where mosquitoes will start to thrive. We really need to understand and better predict these changing weather patterns, using better models to identify where the impact on human health could be the greatest.
Then, it’s about building resilience – efforts to control vectors have been used for decades, but alone, haven’t been the most effective in preventing all vector-borne diseases. To promote resilience, we need to do more than just vector control. Education plays a critical role, not only in helping at-risk individuals understand and minimize their exposure to diseases, but also in enhancing healthcare systems’ diagnostic and management capabilities. Engaging healthcare professionals is also going to be critical, to help identify and manage health conditions impacted by climate change.
Lastly, scientific advancements in preventative methods like vaccines play a crucial role in mitigating climate-related health risks, helping protect not just individuals but entire populations. Developing and distributing vaccines takes specialized expertise and collaboration and coordination between public and private sectors is key.
As you’ve been working on vaccines, what lessons have you learned?
WALLACE: To be successful there are two key areas we must consider. First, where vaccination fits in when it comes to tackling the health impacts of climate change, and with that, how do we make vaccines accessible. Second, is how to scale up production and distribution of the vaccine – this is key to help governments reduce the burden of disease for the population.
At Takeda we are taking steps to better prepare for the potential impacts of climate change, particularly when it comes to dengue. We have a plant in Germany that’s part of our efforts to manufacture and distribute our dengue vaccine. We also have a broader global strategy to expand access to the vaccine by working with collaborators, which should accelerate access in endemic areas. One of our manufacturing partners is Biological E. Limited in India, and with their support, our goal is to be able to produce and distribute 100 million doses per year by the end of the decade. We’re also exploring country-level initiatives to transfer technology and build further capacity for manufacturing of our dengue vaccine.
Our dengue vaccine is currently available in more than 25 countries, and we’re also excited about clinical trials underway that will help expand our knowledge about the vaccine, further inform implementation strategy and support launches in new countries in the coming years. We started clinical trials in 2013, but the vaccine itself dates back to the 1980s, which underscores how long and complex the vaccine development process can be. It’s a very large commitment for a company to invest in development and manufacturing long before we’re in a position to have an impact, but it reflects our sense of responsibility to protect public health.
It’s so important to recognize that no one group can do this alone. With constant travel across countries and continents, disease outbreaks in one country can impact other areas, spreading quickly. Coordination must be at scale and cross borders. It also must cross segments of society, including hospitals, industries, ministries of health, environment, finance and so on. It’s a very complex, interconnected world that we live in, and we need to be activated in parallel. If we’re all working separately, we can never really expect to address the issue.

What is needed to move forward to better tackle the health impacts of climate change?
WALLACE: We need public health groups like the World Health Organization and others to stay focused on the impacts of climate change on health – helping advise countries on the best ways to build resilience and anticipate challenges. With that, there is also room for the value the private industry can bring. My hope is that there can be more open discussion about the complexity of these issues and the multiple avenues that can be a part of solutions. We need good science, strong trust and companies working in tandem with governments – and we’re already seeing some of that, which is exciting.
If we are going to truly protect our communities from the health challenges posed by climate change and its impact on vector-borne diseases, bold and collective action is required from all sectors to accelerate efforts. For example, ensuring that we get pricing right, making vaccines and other tools accessible. The best way to provide fair pricing is through public funding and public decision making about who should be prioritized for vaccination. Another example is making sure we have enough vaccine supply available for those who need it, ahead of major outbreaks. Predicting, planning and building capacity is critical.
I’m clearly hopeful about the future, because we have knowledge and experience to help address critical environmental health issues, such as the disease-related impacts of climate change. Plus, we recognize that the well-being of our patients and their communities is inextricably linked to the health of our planet.
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