First Chikungunya vaccine in Austria: protection against dangerous virus!

First Chikungunya vaccine in Austria: protection against dangerous virus!

Vienna, Österreich - Valneva, an Austrian-French pharmaceutical company, introduced the first vaccine against Chikungunya today. The IXCHIQ vaccine is now available in Austria and enables travelers to protect against infection in endemic regions. In view of the increasing burden of Chikungunya, which is reinforced by climate change, the WHO sees this disease as a growing problem for public health.

The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by AEDES mosquitoes and causes outbreaks in over 110 countries. In 2024, 620,000 Chikungunya cases were registered worldwide, although the actual number may be even higher due to diagnosis and reporting. Symptoms include fever, general discomfort and in particular severe muscle and joint pain that can last for weeks to years and significantly impair daily life.

vaccine details and health effects

The vaccine Ixchiq 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 United States, Great Britain, the EU and Canada. Studies show that the vaccine offers a high seroraktion, with a rate of 98.9 % 28 days after vaccination, which remains stable at 96.3 % after six months. The previous tests outline a cheap security profile because most side effects are mild to moderate.

Research on Chikungunya infection has also shown the development of further vaccine candidates, including RNA vaccines that were emphasized due to their quick reaction and improved security profiles. These new approaches are particularly important because the virus occurs in various genetic forms, which makes vaccine development challenging. In addition, current treatment options are limited and mainly focus on relieving symptoms through anti -inflammatory medication and pain relievers.

public health and future perspectives

The epidemiological data show that Chikungunya has a high prevalence in regions with dengue eruptions 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 an infection between 2011 and 2020. The development and spread of vaccines is crucial to prevent future outbreaks and reduce health costs in connection with Chikungunya.

Valneva also plans to develop programs to make the vaccine available in countries with low and medium -sized incomes. 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 focuses on deepening the immunological understanding and alternative immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies.

Overall, the introduction of the IXCHIQ vaccine defines significant progress in the fight against Chikungunya and sets new standards in the global health agenda.

For more information about the vaccine and its development, please visit the following pages: vienna.at href = "https://valneva.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/2023_11_10_BLA_APPROVAL_PR_DE_Final.pdf"> Valneva and PMC .