Background

Chikungunya is a neglected tropical disease that has become an increasing public health concern, with outbreaks reported in over 114 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania since 2004. Currently, there are no targeted antiviral treatments available for chikungunya virus infection. The first chikungunya vaccine was approved by the US FDA in November 2023, the European Medicines Agency in May 2024, and Health Canada in June 2024. However, there is limited evidence regarding optimal vaccination strategies for chikungunya.

Aim and objectives

Our aim is to generate useful evidence to inform chikungunya vaccination strategies through analysis of stakeholders’ perceptions, estimation of chikungunya seroprevalence and burden, and modelling the health impact of vaccination.

Our objectives are:

• Estimate the disease burden for chikungunya at the global, regional, and national levels through a systematic review and statistical modelling.
• Develop a mathematical model fitted to age-stratified chikungunya seroprevalence data.
• Conduct a qualitative assessment of the stakeholders’ perception of the risk of chikungunya outbreaks and feasibility of chikungunya vaccination.
• Conduct a qualitative assessment of health, economic, and social benefits of chikungunya vaccination and their distribution at the individual, household, and societal levels.
• Engage stakeholders at global, regional and national levels to consolidate efforts around the development and introduction of chikungunya vaccines.