US regulators pause Ixchiq use for older adults

American health officials have recommended temporarily halting the use of Ixchiq (chikungunya virus vaccine) in people over 60 years old while investigations into reported serious adverse events continue.

French specialty vaccine maker Valneva SE (Euronext Paris: VLA) announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a joint communication to healthcare providers about the precautionary measure.

The decision comes as health authorities scrutinize the safety profile of the world's first approved vaccine against the mosquito-borne illness, which can cause debilitating joint pain that may persist for years.