European Medicines Agency’s temporary restriction on use of chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq in elderly lifted – Valneva

Valneva SE announced that the EMA will lift the temporary restriction on vaccinating people aged 65 years and above after concluding a systematic review of Valneva’s single-dose chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq by EMA’s safety committee (PRAC). The committee initiated its review at the beginning of May following the occurrence of serious side effects mainly in elderly people with several underlying medical conditions. In a very recent press release published on its website the EMA underlined that the vaccine is already contraindicated for people with a weakened immune system and concluded that, for people of all ages, Ixchiq should be given when there is a significant risk of chikungunya infection and after a careful consideration of the benefits and risks.

Additionally, EMA noted that while most serious side effects occurred in older people, Ixchiq is effective at triggering the production of antibodies against the chikungunya virus which may be of particular benefit for older people who are at increased risk of severe chikungunya disease.