Chikungunya vaccination information

Chikungunya vaccinations authorised in the UK including updates on recent possible serious adverse events in older people in post marketing surveillance

Chikungunya is a viral infection predominantly spread to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito bites during the day and is found widely throughout the world. In recent decades, following international spread, chikungunya has become a major global health problem [1]. Chikungunya is an unpleasant disease but is rarely fatal. Symptoms include:

• severe joint pains (arthralgia) and muscle pains (myalgia)
• headaches
• sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• skin rashes

The symptoms usually improve within 1-2 weeks, but the joint pains can be severe and may persist for months or even years.

Two new vaccines have recently been approved for use in the UK, the European Union, and the USA. IXCHIQ® is a live vaccine, approved in the UK on 5 February 2025 for individuals 18 years and older. Vimkunya® (CHIKV VLP vaccine) was approved in the UK on 1 May 2025. Vimkunya® is a virus like particle vaccine for individuals 12 years and older.

IXCHIQ® and Vimkunya® vaccines will be reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and guidance drafted for the UK Health Security Agency 'Green Book' Immunisation against infectious disease.

Health professionals offering these vaccines must ensure they are adequately informed on their use. As the guidance for pre-travel risk assessment for chikungunya vaccine has yet to be established and may be complex, health professionals may wish to wait for JCVI guidance before providing this vaccine to travellers.

In early March 2024, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it was investigating five hospitalisations involving cardiac and neurologic events in adults aged 65 years and older following receipt of the IXCHIQ® vaccine [2].

In addition, on 25 April 2025 the French National Authority for Health (HAS) revised its recommendations and suspended IXCHIQ® use in individuals aged 65 years and older pending further evaluation. This was following reports of three serious adverse events in individuals over 80 years old with significant pre-existing comorbidities. Two of these individuals experienced symptoms similar to those of a severe form of chikungunya a few days after vaccination; one died. The third was discharged from hospital. These cases were reported via the French pharmacovigilance system [3, 4].

As of 7 May 2025, the U.S. CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 17 serious adverse events, including two deaths, in individuals 62 to 89 years of age. Six of these reports have been from the U.S. [5]. Many of the people affected also had other illnesses and the exact cause of these adverse events and their relationship with the vaccine have not yet been determined [5, 6]. In light of these events, the U.S. CDC and FDA recommended a pause in the use of IXCHIQ® in individuals 60 years of age and older while post marketing safety reports are investigated [5].

The JCVI will consider these reports as part of their review.

Advice for travellers

Before you travel

Check our Country Information pages to research general health risks, prevention advice and any vaccine recommendations or malaria advice for your destination. Regional information about biting insects that transmit infections including chikungunya is available on our Country Information pages 'Other Risks' section. Outbreaks of chikungunya will be reported in our Outbreak Surveillance section.

Make an appointment with your GP, practice nurse, a travel clinic or a pharmacy offering travel service. They can advise you on the most suitable preventive measures for your trip. UK guidance on the use of chikungunya vaccinations will be available following JCVI review.

While you are away

As many insect and mosquito infections are spread by day-biting mosquitoes, take particular care with bite avoidance especially around dawn and dusk.

Reduce your risk of insect spread illnesses, by wearing long sleeves/trousers, applying insect repellent regularly and following insect and tick bite avoidance advice.

Insect repellent should be applied after sunscreen and regularly reapplied after any activities, including swimming.

50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) based insect repellents are the most effective repellents currently available and can be used in pregnancy, breastfeeding and for children from two months of age. If DEET is unsuitable, alternative insect repellents containing Icaridin (Picaridin) or Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized or 3-ethlyaminopropionate should be used.

See mosquito bite avoidance for travellers for more advice.

If possible natural or man-made water filled containers, which may act as mosquito-breeding sites, should be removed.

When you return

If you have symptoms like a high fever, severe joint pains, muscle pains, headaches, sensitivity to light or skin rashes get urgent medical advice. Remember to tell your treating health care professional where you have visited.

Advice for health professionals

Health professionals advising travellers can check our Country Information pages for vaccine recommendations, malaria guidance and specific risk advice.

Health professionals may wish to wait for JCVI guidance before providing chikungunya vaccines to travellers.

Health professionals who suspect a mosquito or insect spread infection such as chikungunya in a recently returned traveller, should discuss this urgently with their local microbiology, virology or infectious diseases consultant. A full travel/clinical history will need to be provided. They may advise that appropriate samples are sent for testing to specialist laboratory facilities at the Rare and imported pathogens laboratory (RIPL) in the UK.