July 11 (Reuters) -

The European Union's health regulator has lifted the

temporary restriction on the use of French drugmaker Valneva's

chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, in adults aged 65 and

above, following a safety review.

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) safety committee had

temporarily suspended use of the vaccine, branded Ixchiq, among

the elderly in May as a precautionary measure.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that causes

sudden fever and joint pain, transmitted by bites from infected

Aedes mosquitoes.

Ixchiq, the first preventive vaccine for chikungunya

approved in both Europe and the United States, uses a weakened

form of the virus to stimulate an immune response.

Since its approval in the EU in 2024, more than 36,000 doses

have been administered globally.

The EMA panel found that while serious adverse events,

including two deaths, were reported in people aged 62 to

89-often those with underlying health conditions-the vaccine

remains effective in generating immunity.

Older adults are at higher risk of severe chikungunya

infection, making vaccination important in certain

circumstances.

As a result, the panel recommends the vaccine should now be

reserved for situations where there is a significant risk of

chikungunya infection, after careful benefit-risk assessment.

The agency warned against administering Ixchiq to patients

with compromised immune systems.

Valneva did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for

a comment.

The agency will update product information to reflect the new

recommendations.