Valneva to provide 40,000 'IXCHIQ' chikungunya vaccines to La Reunion to help battle epidemic

Vaccine manufacturer, Valneva, today announced that it is responding to the chikungunya outbreak that is rapidly intensifying in France’s Island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa.

In agreement and with support from the local public health agency, the Agence Régionale de Santé La Réunion, Valneva will provide 40,000 doses of their chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ, starting early April, with an option to provide more, through distribution agreements with the Island’s wholesalers.

Chikungunya cases have spiked substantially in La Réunion since early 2025, with 8,600 cases recorded and almost 3,000 new cases during the week of March 3 to 9, 2025.

Local authorities of La Réunion have published a Level 4 emergency crisis management plan to contain the outbreak, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agency of the United States (U.S.) also issued a travel alert as millions of international travelers visit France’s southern resorts and La Réunion Island annually.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said, “Chikungunya outbreaks spread rapidly, so it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible to help contain the virus. We have the capacity to supply more doses and will continue working closely with Agence Régionale de Santé La Réunion to manage this outbreak locally and prevent its spread to other regions through international travel.”

Chikungunya deaths reported in two elderly people on Reunion Island

IXCHIQ^® is the world’s first licensed chikungunya vaccine available to address this significant unmet medical need. It is approved in the United States, Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom for the prevention of disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 18 years of age and older. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently adopted a positive opinion recommending authorization of a label extension for IXCHIQ^® to individuals 12 years of age and older.

On March 5, 2025, the Haute Autorité de Santé recommended to prioritize for vaccination adults aged 65 and over, especially those with comorbidities, followed by adults aged 18 and over with comorbidities, and vector control workers.