French health authorities have suspended the use of Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq in adults aged 65 and older after serious adverse events – including one death – were reported during an ongoing vaccination campaign on the islands of La Reunion and Mayotte.
Valneva confirmed that France’s national public health agency, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), updated its recommendation “pending further investigation”. This followed the hospitalisation of three elderly patients, all over the age of 80 and with preexisting health conditions. One of these patients later died.
In response, HAS is suspending the administration of Ixchiq to seniors while continuing to recommend vaccination for adults aged 18 to 64 living in the outbreak zones. Valneva said it is “actively working with regulators on next steps”.
Shares in Valneva fell sharply following the 25 April announcement, dropping 15.9% when the markets opened on 28 April.
Since the start of 2025, La Reunion has recorded approximately 40,000 confirmed chikungunya cases. Valneva has delivered around 40,000 doses of Ixchiq to support the French government’s emergency vaccination campaign, which began earlier in 2025 across La Reunion and Mayotte.
The French regulatory development comes as US authorities are also scrutinising the vaccine’s safety profile. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating five cases of cardiac and neurologic hospitalisations in people aged 65 and older who received Ixchiq. The CDC currently advises travellers heading to chikungunya-affected areas to consult with healthcare providers about the vaccine’s potential risks and benefits, emphasising age, destination, and personal health factors.
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By GlobalDataIxchiq secured accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023. However, the vaccine generated “slower-than-expected” sales of €3.7m in 2024, according to Valneva’s 2024 earnings. In the first nine months of 2024, Valneva said that sales in the US started slow, forcing a company review of sales guidance for the vaccine.
In February 2025, competitor Bavarian Nordic received an FDA nod for its chikungunya vaccine Vimkunya. Bavarian Nordic already has an advantage over Valneva as its product is indicated for individuals aged 12 years and older, whereas Ixchiq can currently only be used in adults. Valneva submitted a label expansion request to the FDA in November 2024 to extend Ixchiq’s use to adolescents.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that causes fever and joint pain. While most patients recover within a week, some develop prolonged joint pain, and a small percentage experience severe complications, including multi-organ failure. The virus is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been detected in parts of Europe, particularly in southern regions where mosquito vectors are present.
Valneva’s chief medical officer Juan Carlos Jaramillo said: “Valneva is committed to the highest standards of safety and agrees on the importance of continuing the stringent safety surveillance protocols that are in place.
“We appreciate the precautionary decision of the authorities while investigations remain ongoing and in the context of the active vaccination campaign.”
