:quality(70):focal(3649x1374:3659x1384)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/liberation/R2SDGRUYBJDQPD3SQ4N4UNMJJA.jpg "Chikungunya Vaccination Starts in Reunion")
Chikungunya Vaccination Starts in Reunion
- SAINT-DENIS, Reunion Island (AP) — A vaccination campaign against chikungunya began Monday, April 7, on Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, following a surge in...
- the Regional Health Authority (ARS) announced Friday, April 4, that the initial phase of vaccinations will prioritize individuals aged 65 and older, particularly those with existing health conditions.
- The vaccination campaign is a response to the rapid increase in chikungunya cases, a disease transmitted by the tiger mosquito.
Reunion Island Launches Chikungunya Vaccination Campaign Amid Outbreak
Table of Contents
- Reunion Island Launches Chikungunya Vaccination Campaign Amid Outbreak
- Vaccination Priority
- Urgency of the Situation
- Accessing the Vaccine
- Future Vaccination Phases
- Rapid Increase in Cases
- Fatalities and Severe cases
- hospital Response
- Situation in Mayotte
- Vaccine availability and Cost
- Historical Context
- Chikungunya Vaccination Campaign in Reunion Island: Your Questions Answered
- What is happening on Reunion Island related to Chikungunya?
- Where is Reunion Island located?
- Why is there a vaccination campaign?
- Who is being prioritized for vaccination?
- How many doses of the vaccine are available?
- How can individuals access the vaccine?
- Why is the vaccination programme being implemented?
- What are the next priority groups for vaccination?
- When did the current chikungunya outbreak begin?
- How many people are affected?
- Are there any fatalities related to the outbreak?
- Are there any severe cases?
- How is the healthcare system responding?
- Is Chikungunya also spreading elsewhere?
- What is the situation in Mayotte?
- What vaccine is being used, and is it available?
- What was the initial cost of the vaccine?
- Is the vaccine free now?
- How does this outbreak compare to previous outbreaks?
- Key Facts About the Reunion Island Chikungunya Outbreak:
SAINT-DENIS, Reunion Island (AP) — A vaccination campaign against chikungunya began Monday, April 7, on Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, following a surge in cases. Forty-thousand doses of vaccine arrived on the island last week.
Vaccination Priority
the Regional Health Authority (ARS) announced Friday, April 4, that the initial phase of vaccinations will prioritize individuals aged 65 and older, particularly those with existing health conditions. The vaccine will be administered free of charge to this group.Reunion Island has an estimated population of 896,200.
Urgency of the Situation
The vaccination campaign is a response to the rapid increase in chikungunya cases, a disease transmitted by the tiger mosquito. Since the beginning of the year, more than 20,000 cases have been identified. Manuel Valls, Minister of Overseas, stated on France Info on April 4, that the coming weeks are critical, with the peak of the epidemic expected in mid-April.
Accessing the Vaccine
Eligible individuals can receive the vaccine with a medical prescription from a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. The ARS emphasized that the goal of the vaccination is to protect vulnerable individuals at risk of severe complications from chikungunya, specifically those who have not previously been infected and thus have no immunity.
Future Vaccination Phases
While the next priority groups have not yet been announced, the High Health Authority issued recommendations on April 5 suggesting that individuals aged 18 to 64 with comorbidities, as well as healthcare workers involved in combating the epidemic, should be considered in subsequent phases.
Rapid Increase in Cases
The chikungunya outbreak, which began in August 2024, has accelerated in recent weeks. Initially, only isolated cases were reported, but the virus is now present in all 24 communes on the island.According to a health assessment published April 2,nearly 6,000 new cases were recorded between march 17 and 23.
Fatalities and Severe cases
Public Health France reports that two patients, ages 86 and 96, have died from the virus. Several other deaths are under investigation to determine if they are linked to chikungunya. The ARS has also identified 31 severe cases, half of whom are infants.
hospital Response
The Reunion University Hospital Center (CHU), which oversees the island’s medical facilities, activated its “white plan” on Friday. This plan allows the hospital to reschedule certain operations and recall staff from leave to manage the surge in chikungunya patients. The CHU cited a meaningful acceleration in patient management and a very significant increase in emergency activity at its Saint-Denis and Saint-pierre locations. The hospital also reported a saturation of hospitalization capacities, despite opening additional beds, and increasing strain on human resources due to virus-related absenteeism.
Situation in Mayotte
The chikungunya virus is also spreading in Mayotte. The local ARS reports twelve confirmed cases, none of which have required hospitalization. The first case was detected on March 5, and the first indigenous case was confirmed on march 26.
Vaccine availability and Cost
The Valneva IXCHIQ vaccine, authorized for European marketing in June 2024, is currently the only available vaccine. Initially, the vaccine cost around 250 euros, as the manufacturer had not sought reimbursement from health insurance. Though, the Ministry of Health promised exceptional funding in early March to limit the impact of the epidemic, making the vaccine free for at-risk individuals targeted in the first vaccination campaign.
Historical Context
the current outbreak’s impact is being compared to the 2005-2006 epidemic, which affected 260,000 people – more than a third of the island’s population – and resulted in over 200 deaths.
Chikungunya Vaccination Campaign in Reunion Island: Your Questions Answered
This article provides answers too common questions about the ongoing chikungunya outbreak in Reunion Island and the associated vaccination campaign.
A vaccination campaign against chikungunya began on Reunion Island on Monday, April 7, in response to a surge in chikungunya cases.
Where is Reunion Island located?
Reunion Island is a French territory in the Indian Ocean.
Why is there a vaccination campaign?
The vaccination campaign is a direct response to a rapid increase in chikungunya cases. Since the beginning of the year, over 20,000 cases have been identified.
Who is being prioritized for vaccination?
The initial phase of vaccinations prioritizes individuals aged 65 and older, especially those with existing health conditions. The vaccine is being administered free of charge to this group.
How many doses of the vaccine are available?
Forty thousand doses of the vaccine arrived on the island the week of April 7.
How can individuals access the vaccine?
Eligible individuals can receive the vaccine with a medical prescription from a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Why is the vaccination programme being implemented?
The goal of the vaccination is to protect vulnerable individuals at risk of severe complications from chikungunya. This primarily includes those who have not previously been infected and thus have no immunity.
What are the next priority groups for vaccination?
While the next priority groups have not yet been officially announced, the High Health Authority issued recommendations suggesting that individuals aged 18 to 64 with pre-existing health conditions and healthcare workers combating the epidemic should be considered in subsequent phases.
When did the current chikungunya outbreak begin?
The current chikungunya outbreak began in August 2024.
How many people are affected?
Over 20,000 cases have been identified since the beginning of the year. The virus is present in all 24 communes on the island.Between march 17 and 23, nearly 6,000 new cases were recorded.
Yes,Public Health France reports that two patients,aged 86 and 96,have died from the virus. Several other deaths are under investigation to determine if they are linked to chikungunya.
Are there any severe cases?
Yes, the ARS has identified 31 severe cases, and half of those are infants.
How is the healthcare system responding?
The Reunion University Hospital Center (CHU) activated its “white plan” to manage the surge in chikungunya patients. This includes rescheduling operations and recalling staffs from leave. The hospital reported an acceleration in patient management and a significant increase in emergency activity. There’s also a saturation of hospitalization capacity and increased strain on human resources.
Is Chikungunya also spreading elsewhere?
Yes, the chikungunya virus is also spreading in Mayotte.
What is the situation in Mayotte?
The local ARS in Mayotte reports twelve confirmed cases, none requiring hospitalization.The first case was detected on March 5, and the first indigenous case was confirmed on March 26.
What vaccine is being used, and is it available?
The Valneva IXCHIQ vaccine is currently the only available vaccine. It was authorized for European marketing in June 2024.
What was the initial cost of the vaccine?
Initially, the vaccine cost around 250 euros.
Is the vaccine free now?
yes, the Ministry of Health promised remarkable funding in early March to limit the impact of the epidemic, making the vaccine free for at-risk individuals targeted in the first vaccination campaign.
How does this outbreak compare to previous outbreaks?
The current outbreak’s impact is being compared to the 2005-2006 epidemic, which affected 260,000 people – more than a third of the island’s population – and resulted in over 200 deaths.
Key Facts About the Reunion Island Chikungunya Outbreak:
Here’s a rapid summary:
| Feature | Details |
| ——————— | ————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Outbreak Start | August 2024 |
| Vaccination Start | April 7, 2024 |
| Cases Identified | Over 20,000 (as the beginning of the year) |
| Vaccine Used | Valneva IXCHIQ |
| Vaccination Priority | Individuals aged 65+ with existing health conditions |
| Fatalities | Two confirmed deaths (ages 86 and 96) and investigations into additional deaths |
| Severe Cases | 31 identified severe cases. Half are infants. |
| Hospital Response | “White plan” activated at the Reunion University hospital Center (CHU) |
| Previous Outbreak | The current situation is being compared to the 2005-2006 epidemic affecting a large number of people. |