The US FDA approved Ixchiq as the first vaccine against the Chikungunya virus for the 18-year-old and above age group.

Chikungunya is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and America.

Its threat is not only restricted to the acute symptoms but also to the chronic debilitating complications and fatal infection in newborns following mother-to-child transmission.

The FDA approved the vaccine using the Accelerated Approval pathway based on Phase III clinical trial data.

Six months after vaccination, the live-attenuated, single-dose vaccine demonstrated 96.3% seropositivity.

The trial reported severe adverse reactions in some participants.

It awaits a postmarketing trial to determine the seriousness of the reactions.