Independent report

Chikungunya vaccine in UK travellers: JCVI advice

Updated 6 November 2026

On 20 October 2026, following a review by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has withdrawn the UK marketing authorisation for the IXCHIQ® live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine. This follows reports of a number of serious adverse events associated with vaccination with the IXCHIQ® vaccine in older adults.

There is currently only one vaccine authorised and available in the UK to protect against chikungunya - the Vimkunya® vaccine. Unlike IXCHIQ®, the Vimkunya® vaccine is a non-live, virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. Given the safety signal of concern has only been associated with IXCHIQ® live-attenuated vaccine, JCVI does not consider it necessary to advise additional restrictions on the use of Vimkunya®.

The following JCVI advice on vaccination against chikungunya has now been revised to reflect this change. Previously published versions of this JCVI advice can be found through The National Archives.

Background and epidemiology

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes an infection predominantly spread to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are typically active during the daytime (in particular after sunrise and at dusk). CHIKV typically circulates in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, in areas of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean where the Aedes mosquitoes have a wide distribution. In recent years, these mosquitoes have also been found in parts of Europe (France, Italy and Spain) and the United States.

In recent decades, following international spread of disease, large outbreaks have occurred in:

• the Indian Ocean islands
• India
• the Pacific islands
• the Caribbean
• Central America
• South America

A notable outbreak occurred in La Réunion in 2025. Smaller outbreaks have occurred in France and Italy. Due to importation of the virus from infected travellers returning from endemic countries, the presence of competent vectors (Aedes mosquitoes) in many European countries (particularly around the Mediterranean coast) and population susceptibility, the spread of CHIKV in mainland Europe is possible.

Chikungunya symptoms include:

• fever of abrupt onset
• severe joint pains (known as arthralgia)
• muscle pains (known as myalgia)
• headaches
• sensitivity to light (known as photophobia)
• skin rashes

The illness is usually self-limiting and symptoms usually improve within one to 2 weeks, but joint pains can be severe and may persist for months or years. Chikungunya is an unpleasant disease which only rarely results in death. However, chronic disability rates can be high.^{[footnote 1]}

Individuals at risk of more severe disease include those over the age of 65 years, individuals with immunosuppression, and newborn babies.

There is currently no chikungunya transmission in the UK, with all identified cases being related to travel and having been imported into the UK.

Vaccine

Currently there is only one chikungunya vaccine licensed for use in the UK, Vimkunya®.

Vimkunya® (marketing authorisation holder Bavarian Nordic) is a non-replicating VLP vaccine. It was approved by MHRA in May 2025 for use in individuals aged 12 and over.

Data from clinical trials was presented to the travel sub-committee showing a 98% seroresponse (based on detection of neutralising antibodies) in individuals aged 12 to 64 years 22 days after vaccination, falling to 86% seroresponse at 6 months.^{[footnote 2]}

In adults over 65 years of age, a seroresponse of 87% 22 days after vaccination was observed, reduced to 76% at 6 months.^{[footnote 3]}

JCVI noted a lack of data in pregnancy.

UK-based healthcare professionals, patients and care givers can report suspected adverse reactions following vaccination to MHRA using the Yellow Card scheme.

Advice

The travel sub-committee of JCVI met in February 2025, and JCVI met in June 2025 to discuss advice for the use of chikungunya vaccines in UK travellers in addition to standard bite avoidance measures.

The Vimkunya® chikungunya vaccine may be considered for those aged 12 and over who are:

• travelling to regions with active CHIKV outbreaks
• long term or frequent travellers to regions with CHIKV transmission in the past 5 years
• laboratory staff working with CHIKV

References

1. Kang H and others. ‘Chikungunya seroprevalence, force of infection, and prevalence of chronic disability after infection in endemic and epidemic settings: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and modelling study’ Lancet Infectious Diseases 2024: volume 24, issue 5, pages 488 to 503. ↩

2. Richardson JS and others. ‘Chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine safety and immunogenicity in adolescents and adults in the USA: a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial’ The Lancet 2025: volume 405, issue 10487, pages 1343 to 1352. ↩

3. Tindale LC and others. ‘Chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine safety and immunogenicity in adults older than 65 years: a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial’ The Lancet 2025: volume 405, issue 10487, pages 1353 to 1361. ↩