Chikungunya vaccine withdrawn after safety review

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The UK has withdrawn access to the IXCHIQ chikungunya vaccine following a safety review of serious adverse reactions, including chikungunya-like symptoms and rare neurological events. UK health authorities concluded that the vaccine’s benefits no longer outweigh its risks for UK travellers; England reported 160 chikungunya cases in 2025, up from 112 in 2024.

People in the UK will no longer be able to get the IXCHIQ chikungunya vaccine after the drug regulator withdrew it after a safety review.This review looked at the serious adverse reactions reported since the vaccine was approved last year. These included symptoms similar to those of chikungunya virus infection and rare neurological events such as encephalitis.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, “These cases have occurred predominantly in older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions but were also reported in individuals with no known health conditions. Some cases resulted in hospitalisation or death.”As such the agency concluded that the “benefits of receiving this vaccine for UK travellers no longer outweigh the risks.”Last year, England saw the highest number of chikungunya virus cases in more than a decade, with 160 cases reported in 2025, which is a 43% increase from the 112 cases reported in 2024. All of these...