Published on November 19, 2024 at 6:59 p.m.
With climate change, mosquitoes carrying diseases associated with tropical regions are leaving their geographical area and circulating over a larger territory. With protection against mosquito-borne infections becoming increasingly essential, scientists are making the first-ever chikungunya vaccine available.
Before flying south, Quebecers now have the option of being vaccinated against chikungunya fever transmitted by mosquitoes.
“It is a vaccine which has generally demonstrated good effectiveness and a side effect profile which is expected, that is to say local reactions and sometimes a little fever within 24 to 48 hours, but it is a vaccine that is well tolerated,” says Dr. Alex Carignan, microbiologist-infectious disease specialist at the CIUSS de l’Estrie and professor at the faculty of medicine and health sciences at the University of Sherbrooke.
Intense muscle pain
Chikungunya causes very bothersome symptoms, such as fever and headache. Furthermore, it is mainly the virulent muscle pain that differentiates it from other infections transmitted by mosquitoes.
The chikungunya virus has the particularity of causing joint pain and inflammation in the joints which are very debilitating and which can sometimes persist for several months, even years.
Only one dose of live vaccine is needed to protect against infection. Like other travel vaccines, this one is not offered free of charge.
“Travel-related vaccines have a certain luxury element, so they are generally not covered by government programs,” says Dr. Carignan.
Furthermore, the chikungunya vaccine is not recommended for immunosuppressed people and pregnant women.
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