Patient Leaflet Updated 26-Feb-2026 | Valneva UK Limited
IXCHIQ Chikungunya vaccine (live)
IXCHIQ powder and solvent for solution for injection
Chikungunya vaccine (live)
▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.
1. What IXCHIQ is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you receive IXCHIQ
3. How IXCHIQ is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store IXCHIQ
6. Contents of the pack and other information
IXCHIQ is a vaccine that helps protect adults aged 18-59 years against disease caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).
Chikungunya is a disease that is caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which is found in the sub-tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Region. CHIKV is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The majority of people infected with CHIKV develop a sudden fever and severe pain in multiple joints. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. These symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days, but symptoms may last for months or years.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse first to decide if you should be given this vaccine.
IXCHIQ works by teaching the immune system (the body's natural defences) to defend itself against CHIKV. The vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it can not multiply. When the body encounters this weakened version of the virus, the immune system will recognise it and produce antibodies to attack it. When a vaccinated person later comes into contact with the virus, their immune system will recognise it and be ready to defend the body against it. This helps protect them from getting sick.
Talk to your doctor or, pharmacist or nurse before you receive IXCHIQ:
Your doctor will carefully weigh the benefits and risks before recommending the vaccine, taking into consideration the risk of infection with the chikungunya virus in the regions where you are living or going to stay. Serious reactions to the vaccine have been reported mostly in persons 65 years and older and in persons with chronic medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes chronic kidney disease (CKD) or heart disease. Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you experience worsening of your general health or existing diseases (see section 4).
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you are given the vaccine.
Do not donate blood for at least 4 weeks after you have been vaccinated with IXCHIQ.
Inflammation of the brain
Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) has been observed following vaccination with IXCHIQ. Symptoms may include confusion, sleepiness and seizures accompanied by fever and headache. If you experience any of the above symptoms after vaccination, seek medical attention immediately mentioning that you have recently received IXCHIQ (see Section 4).
Chikungunya-like adverse reactions
IXCHIQ may cause side effects similar to chikungunya disease, which may also be severe or last longer (see Section 4).
IXCHIQ may not fully protect everyone who gets the vaccine.
IXCHIQ does not protect against other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
You should still protect yourself from mosquito bites even after you have received the IXCHIQ vaccine. When traveling to countries with chikungunya virus, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.
IXCHIQ has not been tested fully in young people under 18 years of age. It should not be used in this age group.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before receiving this vaccine.
IXCHIQ has not been studied in pregnant women or nursing mothers.
Some of the side effects of IXCHIQ (see section 4) may temporarily affect your ability to drive and use machines. Do not drive or use machines if you are feeling unwell after vaccination. Wait until any effects of the vaccine have worn off before you drive or use machines.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
This medicine contains potassium, less than 1 mmol (39 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially ‘potassium-free’.
This medicine contains 25 mg Sorbitol in each 0.5 mL dose which is equivalent to 0.036 mg Sorbitol/kg/0.5 mL. The additive effect of concomitantly administered products containing sorbitol (or fructose) and dietary intake of sorbitol (or fructose) should be taken into account.
IXCHIQ is given as a single injection of 0.5 mL into the muscle of your upper arm by a doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
If you have any further questions on the use of this vaccine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Vaccination should be given no later than 30 days prior to travel. This is a safety precaution in case you have a reaction to the vaccination and need to seek healthcare.
Like all medicines, this vaccine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects
Get urgent medical attention if you get symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions may include a combination of any of the following symptoms:
In the post-marketing setting, severe but rare reactions to the vaccine have been seen, especially in elderly persons (65 years or older) with two or more long-term medical conditions. These side effects included worsening of the general health or of chronic medical conditions and inflammation of the brain, leading to falls, hospitalisation or death (see section 2). Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you experience worsening of your general health or existing diseases.
The following serious side effects have been reported (frequency not known – cannot be estimated from the available data):
If you experience symptoms suggestive of these side effects, such as confusion, sleepiness, fever, headache, seizures or neck stiffness, seek medical attention immediately mentioning that you have recently received IXCHIQ.
Side effects similar to chikungunya disease
IXCHIQ may cause side effects similar to chikungunya disease (fever ≥ 38°C together with joint pain, muscle pain, headache, fatigue, or certain symptoms pertaining to the nervous system, the heart or the eyes). The symptoms usually start about 3 days after vaccination and disappear within 4 days. In some uncommon cases (about 4 in 1000 people), these side effects may last longer than 30 days. Side effects similar to chikungunya disease are most often mild but some adults may develop more severe symptoms (about 2 in 100 people).
Other side effects
The following side effects may also occur after receiving this vaccine.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1 000 people):
If you are concerned about an adverse event, it should be reported on a Yellow Card. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store and include the vaccine brand and batch/Lot number if available.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse is responsible for storing this medicine and disposing of any unused product correctly. The following information is intended for healthcare professionals.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, vial and syringe after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator (2 °C to 8 °C). Do not freeze.
Store in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
In-use stability of the reconstituted vaccine has been demonstrated for 2 hours when stored either refrigerated at (2°C - 8°C) or at room temperature (15°C - 25°C). After this time, the reconstituted vaccine must be discarded.
From a microbiological point of view, after first opening the vaccine should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions are the responsibility of the user.
Do not throw away any vaccines via wastewater or household waste. Your doctor or nurse will dispose of this vaccine.These measures will help protect the environment.
After reconstitution, one dose (0.5 mL) contains Chikungunya virus Δ5nsP3 strain (live, attenuated)*, not less than 3.0 log10 TCID50**.
* Produced in Vero cells
** 50% tissue culture infectious dose
This product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The other ingredients are:
Powder: Sucrose, D-Sorbitol, L-Methionine, Trisodium Citrate Di-Hydrate, Magnesium Chloride, Di-Potassium- Hydrogen Phosphate, Potassium-Di- Hydrogen-Phosphate and recombinant Human Albumin (rHA produced in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)).
Solvent: Sterile water for injections
See Section 2 “the vaccine contains sodium and potassium”.
IXCHIQ is a powder and solvent for solution for injection. The powder is white to slightly yellowish. The solution is a clear colourless liquid.
Each pack of IXCHIQ contains:
The contents of the two components (vial and syringe) are to be mixed prior to vaccination providing one dose of 0.5 mL.
This leaflet was last revised in 02/2026
Other sources of information
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: https://products.mhra.gov.uk
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