Suspend Use of Chikungunya Vaccine in Adults Aged 60+
A total of 17 serious adverse events, two of which resulted in deaths, have been reported as of May 7, 2025, according to the communication. The events occurred in adults aged 62-89 years who received the live chikungunya vaccine worldwide during postmarketing availability. Six of the events occurred in the United States. Most of the serious adverse events associated with the chikungunya vaccine in the United States and overseas that have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) have occurred in patients with underlying medical conditions and may not be causally linked to the vaccine, according to the communication.
Some of the serious adverse events reported are consistent with complications from chikungunya disease, and the FDA-approved vaccine prescribing information warns that severe or prolonged chikungunya-like adverse reactions may occur. In clinical trials comparing the vaccine with placebo, severe chikungunya-like reactions were observed in 1.6% of vaccine patients vs none of placebo patients. Postmarketing reports of adverse events included one death from encephalitis.
The FDA approved the vaccine for the prevention of chikungunya virus in adults aged 18 years or older who are at increased risk for exposure, and the vaccine contains a live, though weakened, version of the virus, according to the communication. Approximately 80,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed worldwide to date.
The FDA and CDC will continue to evaluate postmarketing safety reports, and the agencies recommend that healthcare providers refrain from administering the vaccine to adults aged 60 years or older while the investigations are ongoing.
Healthcare providers are advised to report any adverse events in recipients of the chikungunya vaccine to VAERS.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
With a new COVID variant on the rise, which US states have the most cases?
Some states are being hit harder than others this summer as a new COVID-19 strain (XGF) continues to spread. Some regions of the U.S. are still experiencing higher rates of positive COVID tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence. Testing, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still being recorded on a weekly basis, however, even amid the chaos of ever-changing strains, recommendations and cuts to vaccine development funding. Here's what to know about the latest data. How many COVID cases were reported nationwide? During the week ending on Aug. 2, 8.5% of the 25,731 Americans tested were positive for COVID, according to the CDC's latest data. This was 2% increase from the week prior. During the same period, only 0.3% of cases resulted in death and 0.9% resulted in an emergency room visit, a 0.1% decrease from the week prior for both categories. More: What is an mRNA vaccine, and why is it controversial? Where are the most COVID cases being reported? See map Western and southern states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, had higher percentages of positive COVID tests during the week ending Aug. 2. What is the most common COVID variant? The CDC has moved to using longer data timeframes for COVID tracking due to low reporting from states. According to the latest data for the two weeks ending June 21, variant NB.1.8.1 remained the most common, accounting for 43% of cases, followed by LP.8.1 at 31% of cases and XFG at 14%. NB.1.8.1 experienced a meteoric rise to becoming the predominant variant, accounting for 0% of cases in April and only 10% in the last week of May, up to 24% at the beginning of June and 43% by the end. XFG, a combination of variants F.7 and LP.8.1.2, is on the rise as of late, having been responsible for 0% of U.S. cases through March, 11% by early June and 14% by late June. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID variants, testing and deaths: What to know this week Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
With a new COVID variant on the rise, which US states have the most cases?
Some states are being hit harder than others this summer as a new COVID-19 strain (XGF) continues to spread. Some regions of the U.S. are still experiencing higher rates of positive COVID tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence. Testing, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still being recorded on a weekly basis, however, even amid the chaos of ever-changing strains, recommendations and cuts to vaccine development funding. Here's what to know about the latest data. How many COVID cases were reported nationwide? During the week ending on Aug. 2, 8.5% of the 25,731 Americans tested were positive for COVID, according to the CDC's latest data. This was 2% increase from the week prior. During the same period, only 0.3% of cases resulted in death and 0.9% resulted in an emergency room visit, a 0.1% decrease from the week prior for both categories. More: What is an mRNA vaccine, and why is it controversial? Where are the most COVID cases being reported? See map Western and southern states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, had higher percentages of positive COVID tests during the week ending Aug. 2. What is the most common COVID variant? The CDC has moved to using longer data timeframes for COVID tracking due to low reporting from states. According to the latest data for the two weeks ending June 21, variant NB.1.8.1 remained the most common, accounting for 43% of cases, followed by LP.8.1 at 31% of cases and XFG at 14%. NB.1.8.1 experienced a meteoric rise to becoming the predominant variant, accounting for 0% of cases in April and only 10% in the last week of May, up to 24% at the beginning of June and 43% by the end. XFG, a combination of variants F.7 and LP.8.1.2, is on the rise as of late, having been responsible for 0% of U.S. cases through March, 11% by early June and 14% by late June.
CNN
43 minutes ago
- CNN
NYC Legionnaires' disease cases rise to 90 as city health officials propose new cooling tower regulations
FacebookTweetLink Health officials in New York City say a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Central Harlem has grown to 90 cases, including three deaths. The update comes days after New York City's health department proposed new regulations for the testing of cooling towers, which they suspect are linked to the outbreak. Cooling towers are rooftop devices that release mist into the air as they cool large buildings. If the water inside becomes too warm, stagnant, or isn't properly disinfected, Legionella bacteria can grow and infect people who inhale the mist. A Department of Health spokesperson told CNN the proposed rules 'were in development well before the Legionnaires' cluster in Central Harlem.' Under New York City law, building owners are responsible for registering and maintaining their cooling towers and they're routinely inspected for compliance. The proposal would set specific time periods for testing and require test sampling be conducted by state-certified labs. It also details monetary penalties for noncompliance, although the posted documents didn't specify amounts. Currently, building owners who fail to follow routine maintenance rules face fines of $500 to $2,000. The proposed changes to testing and fines, however, may come with the challenge of enforcement — city data shows that the city conducted a record low number of inspections in 2024, with less than half the inspections of 2017, when inspection numbers were first recorded. The decline in inspections was first reported by Gothamist. The current Legionnaires' cluster was first announced on July 25. Health officials say all operable cooling towers in the area have been tested, and those that tested positive for Legionella were ordered to be cleaned. The department said it confirmed that the required cleanings were carried out. Legionnaires' disease causes flu-like symptoms, including cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. It is treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can lead to shock and multi-organ failure, according to the World Health Organization. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 10% of people who contract the disease die from complications, with older adults and people with weakened immune systems at higher risk.
