First chikungunya vaccine in Austria: protection against dangerous virus!

First chikungunya vaccine in Austria: protection against dangerous virus!

Valneva, an Austro-French pharmaceutical company, today launched the first vaccine against chikungunya. The IXCHIQ vaccine is now available in Austria and offers travelers protection against infection in endemic regions. Given the increasing burden of chikungunya, which is exacerbated by climate change, the WHO considers the disease to be a growing public health problem.

Chikungunya virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and causes outbreaks in over 110 countries. In 2024, 620,000 chikungunya cases were recorded worldwide, although the actual number may be higher due to diagnostic and reporting difficulties. Symptoms include fever, general malaise, and particularly severe muscle and joint pain, which can last weeks to years and significantly impact daily life.

Vaccine details and health effects

The IXCHIQ vaccine is available as a single dose for adults aged 18 and over and can be ordered in all pharmacies in Austria. It is already approved in the US, UK, EU and Canada. Studies show that the vaccine provides a high seroresponse, with a rate of 98.9% 28 days after vaccination, which remains stable at 96.3% after six months. The tests to date outline a favorable safety profile, as most side effects are mild to moderate.

Research on chikungunya infection has also shown the development of additional vaccine candidates, including RNA vaccines, which have been highlighted for their rapid response and improved safety profiles. These new approaches are particularly important because the virus occurs in different genetic forms, making vaccine development challenging. Additionally, current treatment options are limited and focus primarily on relieving symptoms through anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers.

Public health and future perspectives

Epidemiological data show that chikungunya has a high prevalence in regions with dengue outbreaks and has a significant impact on the quality of life of those affected. Experts estimate that around 7.9 million people could develop chronic symptoms after infection between 2011 and 2020. The development and distribution of vaccines is critical to preventing future outbreaks and reducing healthcare costs associated with chikungunya.

Valneva also plans to develop programs to make the vaccine available in low- and middle-income countries. This is particularly important because the chikungunya outbreak situation in such regions is often more serious, especially since herd immunity is low in many cases. Further research will focus on deepening immunological understanding and alternative immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies.

Overall, the introduction of the IXCHIQ vaccine marks a significant step forward in the fight against chikungunya and sets a new benchmark in the global health agenda.

For more information about the vaccine and its development, please visit the following pages: Vienna.at, Valneva and PMC.