Khaberni - The French Agency for Medicines announced on Monday the registration of 62 side effect cases since the start of the vaccination campaign with the Ixchiq vaccine against the chikungunya virus in France, 21 of which were considered serious.
The Ixchiq vaccine from Valneva is one of the few available vaccines for the prevention of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease causing fever and joint pain. However, the vaccine has faced several challenges since 2025, both in France and internationally, according to the French TV station "BFM."
In the United States, the vaccine's approval was suspended at the end of August 2025 after four new cases of serious side effects were registered.
In France, the vaccine distribution in overseas regions faced difficulties due to serious cases among the elderly, including at least one death in the French island of Reunion, which experienced a major outbreak of the disease at the beginning of 2025.
The use of the vaccine was urgently suspended for individuals over the age of 65 in France, before the European Commission allowed its use again in July 2025, considering that the benefits outweigh the risks for the elderly who are highly susceptible to the disease. However, France maintained a usage warning for the elderly pending a new evaluation at the beginning of 2026.
The vaccine is also prohibited for use in individuals with weakened immune systems due to illness or medical treatment, according to directives from the National Agency for Drug and Health Product Safety, after a new case emerged from its use in an immune-compromised patient.
Rare but confirmed risks
European assessments have clarified the rare risks of developing encephalitis in the elderly with chronic diseases, and three confirmed cases have been registered, as indicated in the official information brochure. Also, the risk of contracting non-bacterial meningitis after vaccination, previously known among the elderly, is now also monitored in healthy young adults after a new case was registered.
While Ixchiq remains one of the essential tools to combat the spread of chikungunya, health authorities urge caution in its use, especially among those most at risk, with continued close monitoring of all side effect cases to ensure population safety.
