FDA Approves World's First Chikungunya Vaccine
Something is interesting with the information this time, "FDA approves the world's first Chikungunya vaccine". This was reported on Thursday (9/11/2023) which approved the world's first chikungunya vaccine.
 |
| Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease, has no specific treatment and can be debilitating and even deadly for newborns. (Photo: Geyres Christophe/ABACA/Shutterstock/FILE) |
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes.
The FDA says chikungunya disease is now a growing global health threat.
Ixchiq Becomes the Name of Its U.S.-Approved Cikungunya Vaccine
The U.S.-approved vaccine was developed by Valneva of Europe and will be marketed under the name Ixchiq.
The FDA said the vaccine has been approved for people 18 and older who are at higher risk of exposure.
The green light for Ixchiq from U.S. drug regulators is expected to accelerate the rollout of the vaccine in countries with the highest prevalence of the virus.
Also, read: Bella Hadid Shares Her Fight Against Lyme Disease.
Chikungunya, which causes fever and severe joint pain, is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas.
"However, chikungunya virus has spread to new geographic areas leading to an increase in the prevalence of the disease globally," said the FDA, which reported more than 5 million cases in the past 15 years.
Senior FDA official Peter Marks said chikungunya virus infection can cause severe illness and prolonged health problems, especially for the elderly and individuals with underlying medical conditions.
"Today's approval meets an unmet medical need and represents an important advance in the prevention of a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options," he said in a statement.
The vaccine is injected in one dose and contains both live and attenuated chikungunya virus, as with any other vaccine.
Two clinical trials were conducted in North America on 3,500 people.
Headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, and nausea are commonly reported side effects.
Serious reactions were reported in 1.6 percent of Ixchiq recipients in the trial, with two of them having to be hospitalized.