You Won't Believe What Brazil's 2027 Chikungunya Vaccine Could Mean for Your Next Vacation!

Bavarian Nordic A/S has made a significant move in the fight against chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease that has affected millions across the globe. The company announced it has entered into an agreement with Brazilian pharmaceutical firm Eurofarma, granting the latter exclusive rights to sell and distribute Bavarian Nordic's chikungunya vaccine, CHIKV VLP (VIMKUNYA®), in Brazil. This agreement, revealed on January 23, 2026, also allows Eurofarma the right of first refusal for any future opportunities to register and commercialize the vaccine in the rest of Latin America.

The chikungunya virus has emerged as a global health concern over the past two decades, affecting over 110 countries. Since its detection in the Americas in 2013, Brazil has become one of the most impacted nations, reporting over 250,000 cases and 120 related fatalities in 2025 alone. Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, noted, “Brazil continues to bear a significant burden from chikungunya, accounting for a substantial portion of global reported cases and related deaths.”

The upcoming regulatory submission to the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) is anticipated for the first half of 2026, which could pave the way for a potential launch of VIMKUNYA® in Brazil by the latter half of 2027. This is particularly pertinent as Brazil continues to grapple with the ongoing health crisis presented by chikungunya.

Chikungunya manifests with severe fever and debilitating joint pain, often leading to long-term health complications. The vaccine, CHIKV VLP, is a single-dose, prefilled, adjuvanted VLP recombinant protein vaccine designed for active immunization and prevention of the disease. Importantly, the vaccine contains no viral genetic material, rendering it non-infectious and suitable for a broad range of individuals.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VIMKUNYA® in February 2025, with subsequent approvals from the European Commission and the United Kingdom in the same month and May, respectively. The vaccine is intended for use in travelers and at-risk populations aged 12 years and older. It is already commercially available at travel clinics throughout the U.S.

Brazil is not new to the chikungunya vaccine landscape. Anvisa granted marketing authorization for another single-dose vaccine, IXCHIQ®, in April 2025, making VIMKUNYA® the second chikungunya vaccine targeting this heavily affected region. The emergence of these vaccines signifies a crucial step toward controlling the virus, especially considering that the U.S. has also reported travel-related and locally acquired cases of chikungunya, particularly in Florida, as of early 2026.

The collaboration between Bavarian Nordic and Eurofarma highlights a proactive approach to combat a disease that has not only affected Brazil but has also posed a risk to travelers from the U.S. and other countries. The potential launch of VIMKUNYA® could offer new hope in the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of chikungunya, which remains a pressing public health concern in the Americas.

For further information on Bavarian Nordic and VIMKUNYA®, visit www.bavarian-nordic.com.