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The MHRA has withdrawn marketing authorisation for the IXCHIQ chikungunya vaccine on safety grounds following advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).

Healthcare professionals must not prescribe, supply or administer the IXCHIQ vaccine and must dispose of any remaining stock, said the MHRA in a drug safety update today (October 20), adding that “the benefits of receiving this vaccine for UK travellers no longer outweigh the risks”.

The update said travellers should also be advised on alternative measures to prevent chikungunya, such as other vaccines or measures to avoid mosquito bites.

Explaining the background to the decision, the MHRA said: “Since its authorisation, serious adverse reactions have been reported, including chikungunya-like symptoms and rare neurological events such as encephalitis.

“These cases have occurred predominantly in older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions, but were also reported in individuals with no known health conditions.

“Some cases resulted in hospitalisation or death.”

Individuals who previously received the vaccine and did not experience side effects are not at risk, the regulator said.

Manufacturer Valneva has reportedly indicated that while it disagrees with the MHRA’s decision it does not plan to appeal against it.