Chikungunya vaccine demonstrates strong effectiveness in adults

A new vaccine for the chikungunya virus shows promising results in adults. The chikungunya virus virus-like particle (CHIKV VLP) vaccine was found to be effective and well-tolerated in both people who have received other alphavirus vaccines and those who have not. In a recent study, all participants, or 100%, developed antibodies to the virus after receiving the vaccine. Those who had previously been vaccinated with alphavirus vaccines had a quicker immune response compared to those who had never received such vaccines. The study involved 60 adults, with an average age of 47. Half had received alphavirus vaccines before, while the other half were vaccine-naive controls. Each participant received a single dose of the CHIKV VLP vaccine and was monitored for 182 days. Researchers measured the antibody response at various times. They found that 93.3% of previous vaccine recipients showed an immune response within 8 days, while 66.7% of the controls did the same. Overall, the vaccine was well tolerated, and no serious adverse effects were reported. The study's authors suggest that the vaccine may enhance immune responses in those who have been vaccinated with other alphavirus vaccines. They noted that the vaccine appears to be safe and effective. However, the study had some limitations, including a small sample size and some missed visits due to COVID-19 restrictions. The researchers also noted an imbalance in racial demographics among participants and inconsistencies in the timing of previous vaccinations. Funding for the research came from various organizations, and some authors had financial ties to companies involved in vaccine development.