The jab generated the target immune response in 99% of people (Image: Getty)
The world’s first for mosquito-borne chikungunya virus has been approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The disease strikes around half a million people every year and has increased the risk of transmission in So what is it and why do we need a vaccine?
What is chikungunya disease?
The viral disease that causes severe joint pain and can make sufferers walked with a stooped posture. The name “chikungunya” is comes from a word in the Kimakonde language of Tanzania that means “to become contorted”.
The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in Africa, Asia and the Americas but cases are also seen in Europe, usually among people who have recently travelled to affected regions.
Around half a million cases and more than 400 deaths were reported in 2023, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
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What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, joint swelling, headache, nausea, fever and rash. They usually begin around four to eight days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.
Most patients recover fully but some serious complications affecting the eyes, heart and nerves have been affected. Chronic joint pain can also persist for months or even years.
There are no specific antiviral treatments available. Patients may be given painkillers and drugs to address their fever and reduce risk of bleeding.
How does the vaccine work?
Developed by French biotech firm Valneva, the vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it cannot multiply. It works by training the immune system to recognise chikungunya virus and produce specific antibodies to attack it.
A clinical trial involving more than 4,000 people who received either the vaccine or a placebo found that 99% of those inoculated had the required level of antibodies after one month, and that level was maintained two years later for 97%.
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How will the vaccine be used?
The vaccine will initially be available on prescription privately for adult travellers planning to visit high risk countries. It could also be used more widely in the event of an outbreak.
Julian Beach, the MHRA’s interim executive director of healthcare quality and access, said: “While mostly endemic to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas, the virus has been detected in small numbers in new geographical areas including parts of Europe.
“It is therefore important we are prepared for potential further spread. “