FDA approves first chikungunya vaccine for people at risk of exposure to the virus
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday the approval of Ixchiq, the first chikungunya vaccine. The vaccine is manufactured by Valneva and is approved for anyone age 18 and older who has a risk of being exposed to the virus, which is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes.
According to the FDA, the chikungunya virus poses an “emerging global health threat,” with at least five million cases reported over the past 15 years. Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, described the approval of the vaccine as addressing an unmet medical need and an important advancement in the prevention of a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options.
Before the FDA’s approval, the vaccine was tested in clinical trials that included 3,500 adults who reported common side effects such as headache, muscle pain, fatigue, joint pain, nausea, fever, and tenderness at the injection site. A small share of recipients (1.6%) experienced adverse reactions, with two recipients needing to be hospitalized. However, in a separate study, the vaccine’s efficacy was measured based on the immune response data of 266 adult participants, and almost all of them were shown to have protective antibody levels.
In regards to the symptoms of the chikungunya virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, with some individuals also experiencing headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Symptoms usually begin within three to seven days after transmission, and most people who contract the virus get better within a week. However, in rare cases, the virus can cause severe and long-lasting joint pain, with those at highest risk including older adults, newborns who contract the infection at birth, and people with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
The chikungunya virus is endemic in Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas, with the first local cases being documented in Caribbean countries in 2013, which then led to the virus spreading throughout the Americas. There is currently no specific treatment for chikungunya, with the CDC recommending rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications to relieve fever for those infected. Travelers to countries where the virus is prevalent can reduce their risk by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying indoors or in screened areas.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a medical contributor for Fox News, noted that the vaccine is deemed “safe and effective” and contains a live weakened version of the virus vaccine. He mentioned that the vaccine is being fast-tracked and recommended giving it to those most at risk first while observing post-marketing studies over the next year.
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