FDA Urges Seniors to Skip Chikungunya Vaccine After Fatal Complications

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sounded the alarm for seniors, urging those over 60 to hold off on the chikungunya vaccine due to severe complications, including two reported deaths. The vaccine, known as Ixchiq and approved in November 2023, was hailed as a breakthrough to combat the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause fever, crippling joint pain, and, in rare cases, long-term disability.

Recent data, however, paints a grim picture. Among 17 reported adverse events in older adults, two fatalities—one linked to encephalitis, a dangerous brain inflammation—have raised red flags. The affected individuals, aged 62 to 89, experienced serious cardiac and neurological issues, prompting the FDA and CDC to recommend a temporary pause in vaccine use for this age group while further safety evaluations are conducted.

Ixchiq, developed by Valneva, contains a live, weakened form of the chikungunya virus, which may trigger symptoms mimicking the disease itself. While the virus is a growing global threat, with over five million cases in the past 15 years, these complications highlight the delicate balance between innovation and safety in public health. The FDA is now reassessing the vaccine’s risks versus benefits for older adults, with updates promised as investigations continue.

For now, seniors planning travel to chikungunya-prone regions face a tough choice: delay vaccination or weigh the risks of a virus carried by the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and Zika. This development underscores the need for rigorous post-market scrutiny to protect vulnerable populations.