Chikungunya vaccine: Vimkunya

The disease and why it matters

Chikungunya is a viral febrile disease characterized by severe joint pain that can persist for weeks to years; the incubation period is typically 3 to 7 days (range 1 to 12 days), onset is often sudden high fever (typically above 102 °F) with joint pains, approximately 15% to 35% of infections are asymptomatic, and acute symptoms typically resolve in 7 to 10 days. ^[1]

Studies report between 5% and 80% of patients with persistent joint pains and prolonged fatigue for months or years after illness; groups at increased risk of more severe disease include neonates exposed intrapartum and by mosquito bites after birth, adults older than 65 years, and people with underlying medical conditions (for example diabetes, heart disease, hypertension); deaths are rare. ^[1]

Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes (predominantly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus); risk exists primarily during the day because Ae. aegypti aggressively bites during daytime; blood-borne transmission is possible. ^[1]

The virus occurs in tropical and subtropical regions and often causes large outbreaks with attack rates up to 75% of the population; risk to travelers is greatest in areas experiencing ongoing epidemics; recent large outbreaks include Ethiopia in 2019 and Paraguay in 2023, and an outbreak that began on the island of Réunion in 2024 was followed in 2025 by outbreaks in many other locations in the Indian Ocean region. ^[1]

Video and figures

Video

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Chikungunya - VEC Vaccine Notes | Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Channel: Vaccine Education Center at CHOP · Uploaded February 4, 2026 · Confirmed available October 12, 2026 · Open on YouTubeRxEvidence has not checked every statement in this video.

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Products available

One chikungunya vaccine is currently licensed and available in the United States, a virus-like particle vaccine (VIMKUNYA, Bavarian Nordic), approved in February 2025 for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older; the live-attenuated vaccine IXCHIQ (Valneva) was licensed in the United States but FDA suspended its license in August 2025 because of serious adverse events in post-marketing surveillance, and Valneva withdrew the license application in January 2026. ^[1]

The FDA VIMKUNYA page is marked content current as of 04/22/2026 and lists a February 14, 2025 approval letter. ^[2]

Who should get it

CDC says people planning travel should discuss with a healthcare provider: symptoms and possible long-term joint problems after infection, benefits and possible side effects of vaccination, outbreaks or ongoing disease activity at the destination, duration of travel or residence and likelihood of future travel, age (for example older than 65 years), pregnancy or breastfeeding, and underlying conditions that may increase risk for severe disease (such as diabetes or heart disease). ^[4]

Dosing and schedule, including catch-up

VIMKUNYA is administered intramuscularly as a single 0.8 mL dose to persons aged 12 years and older; currently there is no recommendation for a booster dose, and data on long-term seroresponse rates are still being gathered to determine the potential need for and timing of a booster. ^{[1] [3]}

Administration

• Shake the pre-filled syringe vigorously immediately before use to form a homogeneous suspension, which should be a white, cloudy liquid; inspect for particulate matter and discoloration and discard if either is present; administer intramuscularly. ^[3]
• Appropriate medical treatment must be immediately available to manage potential anaphylactic reactions, and procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting. ^[3]
• All travelers going to areas with an outbreak or elevated risk should use personal protective measures to reduce mosquito bites, and the label advises that personal precautions (adequate clothing, repellents, mosquito nets) should be taken because vaccination may not protect all recipients. ^{[1] [3]}

Storage and handling

• Store in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 °C (36 to 46 °F) in the original carton to protect from light; do not freeze; the vaccine may be held at room temperature (up to 25 °C or 77 °F) for up to 2 hours after removal from the refrigerator and must be discarded if not used within 2 hours. ^[3]

Contraindications and precautions

Safety and adverse events

Common adverse reactions in more than 10% of participants aged 12 to 64 years included injection-site pain (23.7%), fatigue (19.9%), headache (18.0%) and myalgia (17.6%); in individuals 65 years and older only injection-site pain (5.4%), myalgia (6.3%) and fatigue (6.3%) were reported by more than 5%. ^[3]

Safety was evaluated in two U.S. clinical trials with 3,667 participants 12 years and older who received a single dose of VIMKUNYA or placebo; the seroresponse rate in individuals 65 years and older was lower than in those younger than 65. ^[3]

Special populations

Pregnancy: because chikungunya virus infection in pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes, particularly in the perinatal period, pregnant women should avoid the risk of infection; in general vaccination of a pregnant woman should be deferred until after delivery, but when risk is high (for example an outbreak) and exposure cannot be avoided the risks and benefits should be discussed; if vaccinated, deferring until after the first trimester (after 14 weeks gestation) is preferred and the vaccine should ideally be given at least 2 weeks before the expected delivery date. ^[1]

The label says there are no clinical studies of VIMKUNYA in pregnant women, data are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks, and there is a pregnancy exposure registry (1-888-230-2491). ^[3]

Breastfeeding is not a contraindication or precaution for vaccination with VIMKUNYA; although chikungunya viral RNA has been identified in breast milk of women in endemic areas, no evidence of breastfeeding transmission has been identified, and mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even if infected; the label says human data are not available on its presence in breast milk or effects on the breastfed child. ^{[1] [3]}

Children: safety and effectiveness in individuals 12 through 17 years are based on data from that age group and from adults, and have not been established in children younger than 12 years. ^[3]

Counseling pearls for the pharmacy counter

• The virus-like particle vaccine uses a molecule that resembles the virus closely enough to prompt an immune response; it does not use a live or weakened form of the chikungunya virus; it is a single dose. ^[4]
• People with a history of a severe allergic reaction to any component should not be vaccinated; pregnant women should discuss risks and benefits with a healthcare provider; people with weakened immune systems might not get as much protection. ^[4]
• Use mosquito-bite protection during the day, because the primary vector, Aedes aegypti, aggressively bites during daytime. ^[1]

Common patient questions

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chikungunya. In: CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel, 2026 edition. Page dated January 29, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-associated-infections-diseases/chikungunya.html. Accessed October 12, 2026.
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VIMKUNYA product page (content current as of 04/22/2026). Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vimkunya. Accessed October 12, 2026.
3. VIMKUNYA (chikungunya vaccine, recombinant), injectable suspension for intramuscular use: prescribing information as posted on FDA's product page. Bavarian Nordic A/S. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/media/185477/download?attachment. Accessed October 12, 2026.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chikungunya vaccine. Page dated January 23, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/vaccines/index.html. Accessed October 12, 2026.