Chikungunya vaccination

Currently, Ixchiq® is the only vaccine available in Belgium for protection against  chikungunya. Ixchiq® is a live attenuated vaccine and therefore should not be used in cases of impaired immunity, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The inactivated vaccine Vimkunya® is not yet available in Belgium and is expected in May 2026 at the earliest.

For whom is vaccination recommended?

• Travellers over 12 years old and under 60 years old travelling to an area with an active outbreak.
• Active outbreaks are listed in the country sheets.

Who should not get the vaccine Ixchiq®?

• Persons with impaired immunity.
• Persons who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Persons under 12 years of age or over 60 years of age.
• Persons in poor health or with an underlying condition that is not well managed.

Vaccination schedule

• The schedule consists of 1 dose of Ixchiq® preferably more than 14 days before departure.
• The duration of protection has not yet been determined.
• Ixchiq® is not administered in the same time as other live vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril®). There must be at least 4 weeks between the two vaccines. If this is not feasible, the yellow fever vaccine takes precedence.

Side effects

• Muscle pain, joint pain, headache, fever and local skin reactions are frequently (>10%) reported after vaccination with Ixchiq®.
• Serious adverse events have been reported in persons over 65 years of age with underlying medical conditions. As a precaution, the vaccine should not be administered to persons aged 60 or over, persons in poor health or those with an uncontrolled medical condition.

Additional information for doctors

• Information on chikungunya vaccination for doctors