The Centers for Ailment Manage and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Management (FDA) have issued new guidance advising older adults, especially the ones aged 60 and above, to avoid receiving the chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, evolved via Valneva. This declaration follows growing safety concerns related to unfavorable reactions in older individuals after vaccination.

In 2024, U.S. health authorities started recommending Ixchiq, a live attenuated vaccine made from a weakened form of the chikungunya virus, for adults making plans to journey to regions wherein the virus is tremendous. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne sickness determined in tropical and subtropical regions, and it causes signs and symptoms which includes excessive fever, joint pain, rash, and muscle aches.

However, concerns were raised earlier this year after a CDC advisory panel reviewed a file involving six people aged 65 and older who developed serious heart or neurological headaches inside a week of receiving the vaccine. Most of those individuals already had pre-existing clinical situations. In addition, over 10 similar unfavourable cases were reported internationally, prompting further scrutiny by ecu fitness regulators.

As a result, U.S. health advisors have recommended taking a more cautious technique for older tourists and recommended against administering Ixchiq to people aged 65 and above. Whilst investigations keep, this precautionary stance ambitions to guard prone populations from potentially severe facet outcomes.

In light of the issues surrounding Ixchiq, U.S. health experts have also proposed the introduction of an alternative vaccine. They have advocated making Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya, some other chikungunya vaccine, available to individuals aged 12 and older touring to excessive-risk areas. The CDC has yet to formally adopt this recommendation.

Chikungunya is transmitted through the chunk of infected mosquitoes, broadly speaking in tropical climates. Within the U.S., among 100 and 200 instances are said each 12 months, usually among tourists getting back from endemic regions. Symptoms generally seem inside 3 to 7 days after contamination and can include fever, joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, and pores and skin rashes.

To reduce the risk of infection, the CDC advises vacationers to take preventative measures which include making use of insect repellent, carrying long-sleeved apparel, and the use of permethrin-handled garb and tools. Even as vaccination gives protection, cutting-edge trends highlight the importance of evaluating vaccine safety, especially for older populations.

Sources

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/us-advises-older-adults-to-avoid-the-chikungunya-vaccine/amp_articleshow/121132372.cms

https://apnews.com/article/chikungunya-vaccine-warning-d56e8db3db4197b15c1a331e9e684f17