**U.S. Government Advises Travelers Over 60 to Refrain from Chikungunya Vaccine Due to Potential Side Effects**

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recently issued guidance advising American travelers aged 60 and above to avoid the chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq produced by Valneva. This caution comes as authorities investigate potential adverse side effects.

Chikungunya, a tropical disease that causes fever and joint pain, is spread through mosquito bites. The illness, although not widespread in the United States, impacts around 100 to 200 American travelers annually. The U.S. had previously recommended Ixchiq for adults visiting regions where the disease is prevalent, relying on the vaccine’s composition of a weakened chikungunya virus.

Concerns arose after a CDC advisory panel reviewed cases involving six individuals aged 65 and older who developed heart or brain-related symptoms within a week after receiving the vaccine. Most of these individuals had pre-existing medical conditions. Additionally, more than ten similar cases have been noted internationally.

Given these concerns, the advisory panel recommended a cautious approach for those aged 65 and above regarding the vaccine. They also suggested offering an alternative, Bavarian Nordic's Vimkunya, for travelers aged 12 and older heading to regions experiencing chikungunya outbreaks. The CDC has yet to decide whether to adopt these recommendations.

European regulators are also monitoring the developing situation as they conduct their own investigations into the vaccine's safety for older populations.