Chikungunya Vaccine

ByMargot L. Savoy, MD, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Reviewed/Revised Apr 2024
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chikungunya disease in individuals ≥ 18 years of age who are at increased risk of exposure to chikungunya virus.

Chikungunya disease is transmitted by the Aedesdengue and Zika viruses, which are transmitted by the same Aedes mosquito.

For more information, see Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Vaccine Recommendations and the FDA approved prescribing information for the chikungunya vaccine.

(See also Overview of Immunization.)

Preparations of Chikungunya Vaccine

Indications for Chikungunya Vaccine

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved recommendations for use of the vaccine among certain people who travel abroad and for laboratory workers in the United States.

  • People aged > 65 years, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, who are likely to have at least moderate exposure to mosquitoes (moderate exposure could include travelers who might have at least 2 cumulative weeks of exposure to mosquitoes in indoor or outdoor settings) OR

  • People staying in such an area for a cumulative period of 6 months or more

Contraindications and Precautions for Chikungunya Vaccine

The are

  • Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or medical therapy (eg, from hematologic and solid tumors, receipt of chemotherapy, congenital immunodeficiency, long-term immunosuppressive therapy, or patients with HIV infection who are severely immunocompromised).

  • History of severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine

are

  • Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available in the event anaphylaxis occurs.

  • The vaccine may cause severe or prolonged chikungunya-like adverse reactions.

  • Vaccine viremia occurs in the first week following administration of the vaccine. It is not known if the vaccine virus can be transmitted from a pregnant individual to the fetus or neonate and cause fetal or neonatal adverse reactions. However, vertical transmission of wild-type chikungunya virus to neonates from pregnant individuals with viremia at delivery is common and can cause severe, potentially fatal chikungunya disease in neonates.

Dose and Administration of Chikungunya Vaccine

Adverse Effects of Chikungunya Vaccine

The common adverse effects reported in clinical studies were

  • Injection site reaction and tenderness

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Myalgia

  • Arthralgia

  • Fever

  • Nausea

More Information

The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.

  1. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): ACIP Recommendations

  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Chikungunya Vaccine, Live approved prescribing information

Drugs Mentioned In This Article
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