What You Need To Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advise that the live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine should not be used among people 60 years and older until reports of serious adverse events are further investigated.
Over the past few months, the CDC and FDA investigated six serious adverse events, including five hospitalizations, for cardiac or neurologic events following vaccination with IXCHIQ among older people.
Additional action items for healthcare providers:
- Report any adverse event following vaccination to VAERS.
- Review the latest CDC Travel Health Notices for information on areas with chikungunya outbreaks.
- Counsel patients traveling to areas with a risk of chikungunya on how they can prevent mosquito bites.
- Refer to the package inserts for information on the two chikungunya vaccines now licensed in the United States: IXCHIQ and VIMKUNYA.
- Discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with your patients based on each traveler’s destination, trip duration, and age.