Access the newly authorised chikungunya vaccine in Maidstone today; same-day bookings available.
(IXCHIQ / Vimkunya)
Choose a weekday. No GP referral or waiting list.
Pharmacist reviews your travel and health.
Around 20 minutes. Vaccination record emailed.
Single-dose protection with bite prevention advice.
Recommended vaccines : Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis
Recommended vaccines : Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis
Aedes mosquitoes pick up the virus during daytime biting while malaria peaks at night. The virus enters the bloodstream and multiplies in the joints and connective tissue. That is why joint pain is so severe and persistent.
Sudden fever, severe joint pain, headache, and rash appear 2 to 7 days after an infected bite. Debilitating joint pain distinguishes it from dengue. Up to a third of patients develop chronic joint pain lasting months or years with no available treatment.
Two vaccines are now available with different mechanisms and eligibility criteria (assessed in full at your appointment)
Non-live virus-like particles (suitable for 12 years and over and 60s and over). Avoided while still in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Individually assessed.
Both can cause sore arms, headaches, tiredness and mild aches. Your pharmacist tells you what to look for: IXCHIQ can cause a short-lived chikungunya-like reaction.
Recommended for travellers to endemic regions who are eligible. A full assessment is needed before any dose is given.
Both are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and have similar early symptoms. Vaccination strategies for both are completely different.
Transmission
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes
Aedes aegypti mosquito primarily
Key distinguishing symptoms
Severe, debilitating joint pain that can persist for months or years
Severe headache, pain behind the eyes, potential haemorrhagic complications in repeat infections
Vaccines are available
Yes. IXCHIQ (aged 18 to 59) and Vimkunya (from age 12) available at our clinic
Qdenga available for dengue in some settings; ask your pharmacist
Treatment
No specific antiviral. Supportive management only.
No specific antiviral. Supportive management only.
Long-term risk
Chronic joint pain and arthritis in a large share of patients
Increased severity risk in repeat infections (dengue haemorrhagic fever)
Backpackers and outdoor adventurers
Extended time outdoors during peak mosquito activity hours in endemic regions creates sustained exposure risk
Travellers to urban and peri-urban areas in endemic countries
Aedes albopictus thrives in urban environments, making city-based travellers more exposed than those in purely rural settings
Long-stay travellers and expats
Extended time in affected regions multiplies cumulative exposure through repeated daily mosquito contact
Travellers to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean islands
These regions have had major outbreaks and still carry a higher risk for UK tourists.
Travellers during warmer and wetter seasons
Aedes mosquito populations peak during and after rainy seasons when breeding sites multiply
Those travelling to Southern Europe in summer
Aedes albopictus is now established in parts of Italy, France, and Spain, creating a growing risk closer to home
Mandeep Sandhu is superintendent pharmacist and independent prescriber at Maidstone Travel Clinic with specialist travel health training from NaTHNaC. Mandeep Sandhu is a fully accredited Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre vaccinator, qualified to advise, vaccinate and supply travel medications in one appointment.
Each consultation is personally led, not delegated, not rushed. Patients depart with a plan tailored to their individual trip, not a generic printout.
IXCHIQ is for adults aged 18 to 59. Vimkunya is available from age 12 with no upper age limit. Full eligibility assessed at consultation based on age, health, and medications.
No. Neither vaccine should be given with other vaccines at the same appointment. Your pharmacist will plan separate appointments so you get everything you need before departure.
Not for at least 4 weeks after vaccination. Inform your pharmacist if you have a planned donation so timing can be arranged appropriately at your consultation.
Prior infection generally results in natural immunity, though duration varies. Discuss your history with your pharmacist at consultation, and they will advise whether vaccination is still beneficial for your situation.
Not within 3 months of receiving blood, plasma, or immunoglobulin transfusions. Vimkunya does not carry this restriction and may be an alternative depending on your age and eligibility.
