The Commission has today authorised the first-ever vaccine against Chikungunya virus – a disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
While Chikungunya is not endemic in the EU, the effects of climate change have led to an increased presence of mosquitoes that transmit serious diseases in Europe. A recent report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed the presence of the Aedes albopictus mosquito in 13 EU/EEA countries and the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Cyprus, which can contribute to the spread of Chikungunya, Zika, dengue and yellow fever.
The EU authorisation of the Chikungunya vaccine is intended for adults over 18 years of age. It was unanimously endorsed by Member States following a stringent assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is up to national authorities in each Member State to decide who will have access to the vaccine, taking into account the national situation and risk status…
