Brazil Launches Free Chikungunya Vaccine Amid Record Outbreak

Brazil is rolling out a free chikungunya vaccination campaign as cases surge across the country. The Ministry of Health reported 254,095 probable infections and 161 deaths in 2024 alone. Valneva's IXCHIQ vaccine, already approved in several countries, will now be offered to thousands of adults in high-risk areas.

The pilot programme will distribute up to 500,000 doses of IXCHIQ to adults aged 18 to 59 in ten Brazilian municipalities. Officials aim for a vaccination coverage rate of 20 to 40 percent. This campaign follows Brazil's staggering case numbers—over one million infections recorded between January 2019 and July 2024, the highest globally.

IXCHIQ has faced setbacks in the U.S., where the FDA placed a clinical hold on the vaccine after a serious adverse event in a young adult. The patient had received three vaccines simultaneously. As a result, Valneva voluntarily withdrew IXCHIQ from the U.S. market, though it remains approved in Europe, Canada, the UK, and Brazil.

The company continues to stand by the vaccine's safety for travellers and those in outbreak zones. Meanwhile, Valneva is advancing its Lyme disease vaccine, VLA15, with Phase 3 trial results expected in early 2026. Financial updates, including 2025 revenue and liquidity figures, will be released on February 19, with full-year results due on March 1.

The Brazilian campaign could provide key data on IXCHIQ's real-world effectiveness. If successful, it may help expand access in other chikungunya-endemic regions. Valneva's focus remains on demonstrating the vaccine's benefits while navigating regulatory challenges in different markets.