On May 13, while awaiting confirmation of a new CDC Director, the HHS Secretary adopted the chikungunya vaccine recommendations made by the ACIP on April 16 (see Recent Meeting Recommendations; April 15–16, 2025). These are now official federal recommendations. They involve two distinct vaccines: live attenuated chikungunya vaccine (CHIK-LA, Ixchiq, Valneva) and the non-live virus-like particle chikungunya vaccine (CHIK-VLP, Vimkunya, Bavarian Nordic).

Important note: On May 9, FDA and CDC recommended not administering CHIK-LA (Ixchiq) to individuals age 60 years or older while an investigation of reported serious cardiac and neurologic adverse events following its use proceeds. This superseded the more limited ACIP recommendation made on April 16 for a precaution to the use of Ixchiq in people age 60 years and older.

The newly adopted recommendations involve two groups of people:

Laboratory workers: ACIP recommended use of CHIK-VLP (Vimkunya) for laboratory workers with potential for exposure to chikungunya virus. (Note: Ixchiq is already a recommended option for this population.)

Travelers: The two vaccines are recommended for different ages: only CHIK-VLP (Vimkunya) is approved for use in adolescents down to age 12 years.

• ACIP recommended use of virus-like particle chikungunya vaccine (CHIK-VLP) for people age 12 years and older traveling to a country or territory where there is a chikungunya outbreak. CHIK-VLP vaccine also may be considered for people age 12 years and older traveling or taking up residence in a country or territory without an outbreak but with elevated risk for U.S. travelers if planning travel for an extended period, e.g., 6 months or more.
• ACIP recommended use of live attenuated chikungunya vaccine (CHIK-LA) for people age 18 years and older traveling to a country or territory where there is a chikungunya outbreak. CHIK-LA vaccine also may be considered for people age 18 years and older traveling or taking up residence in a country or territory without an outbreak but with elevated risk for U.S. travelers if planning travel for an extended period, e.g., 6 months or more.

Now that they are official, the chikungunya vaccine recommendations will be published in MMWR and reflected in CDC’s print and digital resources in the coming months.

Related Links

• CDC: ACIP Recommendations main page; see Recent Meeting Recommendations; April 15–16, 2025
• FDA: FDA and CDC Recommend Pause in Use of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older While Postmarketing Safety Reports are Investigated (5/9/25)
• Immunize​.org: Vaccines A–Z: Chikungunya main page

This week we spotlight two pages with important information for clinicians, public health authorities, vaccination advocates, and families: Vaccine-Specific Requirements by state and State Exemptions.

These can be found by choosing the Official Guidance tab atop each page, then selecting States from the left-hand list. 
 
Vaccine-Specific Requirements contains links to vaccine-specific requirements by state for daycare, school, and post-secondary education settings. Each vaccine listed on the page can be expanded to view links to each state’s requirements in a data table and as a downloadable map. State immunization program managers reported these data in May 2024. A link to view an archive of 2023 requirements is also available.



The State Exemptions page links to a data table and map showing which states accept medical, religious, and personal vaccination exemptions and a map of exemptions permitted for school and childcare. It also links to policy statements from medical organizations endorsing strong school and childcare vaccination requirements. Toward the top of the page is a link to view an archive of 2023 requirements.



Related Links

• Immunize​.org: Orientation Video Series: Introducing State Immunization Requirements Information
• Immunize​.org: Orientation Video Series: Introducing State Immunization Requirements Information (mobile view)

Laminated booklets of the 2025 U.S. adult immunization schedule are still available in the Immunize​.org shop. The 2025 child and adolescent schedule booklets sold out.

The schedules are available online as PDFs from CDC at no cost. Immunize​.org’s laminated booklets are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting where vaccines are given.

• Immunize​.org: Laminated Adult Immunization Schedules (19 and older) web page
• Immunize​.org: Shop Immunize.org main page

The National Academy of Medicine and partners will host a webinar titled Measles 2025: The State of the Outbreak at 4:00–5:30 p.m. (ET) on May 27. Amid the widespread and dangerous measles outbreak in the United States, healthcare providers, public health practitioners, and members of the public need to know how to protect their patients, communities, and loved ones. The webinar will cover:

• How measles spreads and how it can be contained
• Symptoms of measles and how it is diagnosed and treated
• How to share accurate information about the virus
• The challenge of vaccine hesitancy and declining immunization rates

Register for the webinar.