PARIS: US well being authorities have suspended the licence for the Ixchiq vaccine towards the chikungunya virus following stories of “severe opposed occasions”, the drug’s French maker stated on Monday (Aug 25).
Ixchiq is considered one of simply two vaccines permitted by the US Meals and Drug Administration for the mosquito-spread virus, which primarily happens in tropical and subtropical areas however has lately been found in international locations worldwide.
French firm Valneva obtained US approval for the vaccine in 2023, however stories of unintended effects have prompted critiques, particularly over its use in older sufferers, together with by the European Medicines Company this yr.
“The suspension of the licence is efficient instantly,” Valneva stated of the FDA order issued on Friday, citing 4 extra circumstances of significant unintended effects, three of which concerned folks aged 70 to 82.
“As we decide potential subsequent steps, and because the clear menace of chikungunya continues to escalate globally, Valneva stays absolutely dedicated to sustaining entry to our vaccine as a worldwide well being device,” chief government Thomas Lingelbach stated in a press release.
Public well being specialists say chikungunya may very well be a possible future pandemic menace as local weather change pushes the mosquitoes that unfold it into new areas.
The signs are much like these of dengue fever and Zika virus, with excessive fever and extreme joint ache that’s usually debilitating and varies in period.
