Federal health authorities are advising seniors against a vaccine that’s usually recommended for travelers due to a serious mosquito-borne illness.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health alert recommending that individuals aged 60 and above refrain from receiving the Ixchiq vaccine, developed by Valneva, which is intended for protection against chikungunya, a tropical disease.
Reported outbreaks of chikungunya, linked to mosquitoes, have occurred in various regions including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and islands across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Infected travelers can carry the virus to new areas.
The chikungunya virus spreads when mosquitoes bite an infected person and then subsequently bite another person. The CDC notes that around 100 to 200 chikungunya cases are reported each year among U.S. travelers.
Vaccine Warning
The CDC is recommending this vaccine pause while investigating “serious adverse events,” including neurological and cardiac issues. Since May 7, there have been 17 serious reports, including two fatalities, involving individuals aged 62 to 89 who received the Ixchiq vaccine. Six of these cases have been recorded in the U.S.
Globally, approximately 80,000 doses of Ixchiq have been distributed. The CDC highlighted that the most significant health concerns have emerged among individuals with pre-existing conditions. Symptoms reported have included severe chikungunya-like reactions such as fever, joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling, and lasting rashes, sometimes persisting for up to 30 days.
The FDA mentioned it is conducting a risk assessment regarding the vaccine’s effects on those aged 60 and older.
Initially approved in late 2023 for individuals 18 and older at heightened risk of chikungunya—mostly due to travel in affected areas—Ixchiq uses a live, weakened version of the virus, which can lead to symptoms resembling the actual disease.
