The European Commission has today authorized the first vaccine against the Chikungunya virus, a disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The Ixchiq vaccine, produced by Valneva, is intended for people aged 18 and over. Although Chikungunya is not endemic in the EU – explains the European executive – the effects of climate change have led to an increased presence of mosquitoes that transmit serious diseases in Europe. In addition, a recent report by the ECDC, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, confirmed the presence of the Aedes albopictus mosquito in 13 EU countries and the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Cyprus, which can contribute to the spread of Chikungunya, Zika, dengue and yellow fever.
The EU4Health programme
The vaccine was approved unanimously by Member States following a rigorous assessment by the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, and it is now up to the national authorities of each Member State to decide who will have access to the vaccine, taking into account their national situation and risk status. In addition, to further reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases spreading in Europe, the Commission has announced €500,000 in funding from the EU4Health programme for a pilot project to help eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Cyprus, currently the only EU country where it is present. The eradication programme will use the Sterile Insect Technique (Sit), where male mosquitoes are sterilised with low-dose radiation, which has proven to be an effective method for vector control, particularly in areas where invasive mosquito species have recently been introduced. The programme, implemented with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will also support other Member States in considering this vector control technique to reduce risks to public health.
