Two chikungunya vaccines have been licensed in Europe: Vimkunya® (virus-like particle vaccine, licensed in 2025) and Ixchiq® (live-attenuated vaccine, licensed in July 2024). Neither vaccine is licensed in Switzerland; use in Switzerland is therefore off-label. Consultation with a travel or tropical medicine specialist is advised.
General considerations:
In Switzerland, chikungunya is rare among travellers, except during outbreaks. Severe disease may occur in the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, or those with serious underlying conditions.
Vaccination recommendation:
Pending market authorization in Switzerland, the Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine provides the following recommendations for chikungunya vaccination:
Chikungunya vaccination is recommended for:
Persons >12 years of age travelling to an area with a chikungunya outbreak (see current outbreaks list of US CDC).
Laboratory workers who might be exposed to the virus.
- Chikungunya vaccination is recommended for:
- Persons >12 years of age travelling to an area with a chikungunya outbreak (see current outbreaks list of US CDC).
- Laboratory workers who might be exposed to the virus.
- Persons >12 years of age travelling to an area with a chikungunya outbreak (see current outbreaks list of US CDC).
- Chikungunya vaccination may be considered for:
- Persons >12 years travelling or moving to an area with elevated risk for chikungunya (see list of countries with elevated risk of US CDC) if planning to stay for an extended period of time or repeated stays (for example, cumulative period of 3 months or more).
- Persons >12 years travelling or moving to an area with elevated risk for chikungunya (see list of countries with elevated risk of US CDC) if planning to stay for an extended period of time or repeated stays (for example, cumulative period of 3 months or more).
Vaccine considerations (off-lable use, 1 dose, intramuscular,):
- Vimkunya® vaccine: can be used in persons aged 12 years old and over.
- Contraindications: hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components.
- Contraindications: hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components.
- Ixchiq® vaccine: should be used only with caution in immunocompetent persons aged 12 -59 years weighing risks and benefits due to potentially serious adverse events, see NaTHNaC LINK and EpiNews.
- Contraindications: i) hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components; ii) immunocompromised individuals; iii) pregnant women (though official wording in EMA is “not recommended”).
- Contraindications: i) hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components; ii) immunocompromised individuals; iii) pregnant women (though official wording in EMA is “not recommended”).
Special populations:
- Pregnancy / breastfeeding: advise against travelling as also to regions with frequent co-circulation of other mosquito-borne infections (e.g. zika, dengue, yellow fever, malaria etc.) and weigh risk-benefit. If vaccination is considered, Vimkunya® vaccine is recommended.
- Immunocompromised hosts and elderly (above 60 years): Vimkunya® vaccine is recommended.
For Side effects and other details, see EMA authorization for Ixchiq® and Vimkunya®. A SOP will soon be available in the PRO version of www.healthytravel.ch.