Trump, RFK Jr. Launches $500 Million Universal Vaccine Initiative
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst, discusses a new plan from the Trump administration to develop vaccines that target a variety of viruses. The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is also looking at potential links among these vaccines.
Older adults have been cautioned against getting the Chikungunya vaccine before embarking on their travels. The Ixchiq vaccine, created by Barneva to guard against the chikungunya virus spread by mosquitoes, received approval from the FDA in November 2023 — marking a significant first.
This approval is intended for individuals over 18 who are likely to encounter the virus.
However, the FDA and CDC released a safety advisory on May 9, advising adults over 60 to refrain from receiving the vaccine due to potential severe complications.
“The FDA and CDC will continue to review post-market safety reports for IXCHIQ,” the notice states.
There have been reports of serious adverse effects, including neurological and cardiac issues in vaccinated individuals, with two out of 17 cases resulting in fatalities tied to severe complications. One involved brain inflammation, known as encephalitis.
Most of the individuals who encountered adverse effects were between 62 and 89 years old.
The FDA has indicated that the Ixchiq vaccine includes a weakened version of the chikungunya virus, potentially causing symptoms that resemble the actual disease.
Common symptoms of chikungunya, according to the CDC, include fever, joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, and rashes. Generally, people recover within a week, but some may experience intense joint pain that could linger for weeks or even months.
Dr. Marc Siegel previously noted that chikungunya is similar to dengue and Zika viruses, both transmitted by the same mosquito species.
At the time of its approval, the FDA referred to chikungunya as a “new global health threat,” citing over 5 million cases reported in the last 15 years.
The FDA intends to carry out an updated risk assessment for the use of Ixchiq in individuals older than 60.
