Chikungunya Vaccine in Longridge, Preston
The chikungunya vaccine Vimkunya is a single, non-live injection for travellers aged 12 and over, helping protect against a mosquito-borne virus known for long-lasting joint pain.
Suitability is assessed before vaccination. Bring your vaccination records.
At a glance
Ask for advice 4 to 6 weeks before you travel, earlier if you can.
1 dose
Single dose, ideally at least two weeks before travel.
Long-term duration not yet known
Previous doses, including combined vaccines, may change what you need.
Injection
What is chikungunya?
The chikungunya vaccine we offer at Longridge Travel Health Clinic is Vimkunya, made by Bavarian Nordic and approved by the MHRA in 2025 for people aged 12 and over. It is not a live vaccine. It contains virus-like particles made from parts of the chikungunya virus’s outer coat, which cannot infect cells or cause the disease but train your immune system to recognise the real virus. It is worth considering if you are travelling to an area with an outbreak, or you stay for long periods or travel often where the virus circulates.
Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Unlike the mosquitoes that carry malaria, they bite during the day, and they breed in standing water in containers around homes, such as plant pots and old tyres. The virus is found in tropical and subtropical parts of Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean, and outbreaks have become larger and more frequent in recent decades, including on the Indian Ocean islands and across Central and South America. It is not currently caught in the UK, and it does not pass from person to person.
The name comes from a word in the Makonde language of East Africa meaning “that which bends up”, after the joint pain that marks the illness. Symptoms usually start four to eight days after a bite, most often with a sudden high temperature and severe pain in several joints. Most people recover within one to two weeks, but the joint pain can be disabling and can last for months or even years. There is no specific antiviral treatment; care is rest, fluids and medicine for pain and fever.
Who should have the chikungunya vaccine?
UK guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says vaccination may be considered, on top of bite avoidance, if you are travelling to an area with an active outbreak, if you are a long-term or frequent traveller to places that have had chikungunya in the past five years, or if you work with the virus in a laboratory. Your health matters too, because severe illness is more likely in people over 65 and people with a weakened immune system. Vimkunya has not been assessed in people with a weakened immune system, and there is limited data in pregnancy and breastfeeding, so tell us about any of these before your appointment. Outbreaks shift from month to month, so we check the current advice for every country on your route at your consultation.
Who should consider a chikungunya vaccine?
Your pharmacist confirms what applies to you at your consultation.
For full information, visit the NHS and TravelHealthPro.
Understanding chikungunya: what you need to know
How the infection spreads and what to look out for, so vaccination sits alongside sensible precautions while you are away.
Key fact
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya, and although most people recover within one to two weeks, joint pain can last for months or years: up to 12 in 100 people still have it three years later. The Aedes mosquitoes that spread it bite during the day, so evening-only precautions are not enough.
Recognise the symptoms
If you develop a high temperature or joint pain during or after travel, contact your GP or NHS 111 promptly and tell them where you have been, as dengue and malaria can start the same way and need ruling out.
Where the chikungunya vaccine is recommended
These are the destinations we publish guides for where this vaccine is commonly advised. Your itinerary decides what applies.
Chikungunya Vaccine course and timing
Single dose, ideally at least two weeks before travel.
Book this vaccinationLeaving sooner?
It is still worth contacting us. Call with your travel dates so we can discuss what may be possible in the time available.
Check it suits you and your trip
We go through your itinerary, age and health, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, bleeding problems and any condition or medicine that weakens your immune system.
One injection in the upper arm
Vimkunya is a single injection into the muscle of the upper arm, ideally your non-dominant arm. We record the product and batch number for your vaccination record.
Protection builds
In trials, most people aged 12 to 64 had the immune response linked to protection within 14 days. The need for a booster has not been established, so keep your record for future trips.
For full information, visit the NHS and TravelHealthPro.
NHS or private chikungunya vaccination?
Some travel vaccines are free through a GP surgery after a travel risk assessment. Check that route if it suits your dates, and tell us about anything already arranged so our advice takes it into account.
When the NHS is the right route
Chikungunya vaccination is not on the NHS list of free travel vaccines, so you pay for it privately, whether at a travel clinic, a pharmacy or a GP surgery that offers it.
Why book privately with us
Suitability and what to expect
Your appointment includes a check of your health and previous vaccines, so the product and schedule are right for you, including for children.
Tell us before your appointment
Your pharmacist will explain whether to vaccinate, adjust the timing or seek further advice. Do not stop prescribed medicines before an appointment.
After your vaccination
The most common side effects of Vimkunya are pain where the injection was given, tiredness, headache and muscle aches, each affecting more than 1 in 10 people. Chills, joint pain, feeling generally unwell and feeling sick affect up to 1 in 10. Get urgent medical help if you notice signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the lips, face or throat, wheezing or shortness of breath.
No vaccine protects everyone, so keep avoiding mosquito bites during your trip, especially in the daytime. Use a DEET-based repellent on exposed skin and cover up where you can. The same precautions help protect you against dengue and Zika, which are spread by mosquitoes that also bite by day.
Chikungunya Vaccine cost
Prices are per dose. A follow-up dose is a separate vaccination, so plan for the full course when comparing costs. We confirm the price before anything is given.
£180
per doseDoses: 1 dose
Follow-up doses are separate vaccinations; the product, your previous doses and the assessment decide the course.
What travellers say about our clinic.
Clear advice, friendly pharmacists and appointments that fit around your plans. Here is what our travel customers have shared.
Chikungunya Vaccine questions
Practical answers before you book. Anything specific to your trip is covered at your consultation.
Do I need a chikungunya vaccine for my trip?
It depends on where you are going, for how long and how often. UK guidance suggests considering the chikungunya vaccine if there is an active outbreak at your destination, or if you stay long-term or travel frequently to places that have had chikungunya in the past five years. Check your destination in our country guides, then bring your full itinerary to your consultation so we can check the latest outbreak reports.
Who can have Vimkunya, and is there an age limit?
Vimkunya is licensed for people aged 12 and over, with no upper age limit, and UK guidance places no extra restriction on it for older adults. It has not been studied in children under 12. In trials the immune response was lower in people aged 65 and over than in younger adults, although most still responded. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a weakened immune system, tell us first, as the evidence in these groups is limited.
How long before travel should I have the chikungunya vaccine?
Aim for at least two weeks before you fly. In the main trial, around 97 in 100 people aged 12 to 64 had the antibody response used as a marker of protection 14 days after their injection, rising to 98 in 100 by three weeks. The response was lower in people aged 65 and over, so book earlier if that applies to you. If your departure is close, call us with your dates.
How long does the chikungunya vaccine last?
Nobody knows yet, because Vimkunya is new. The trials followed people for six months, and at that point about 86 in 100 people aged 12 to 64, and about 76 in 100 aged 65 and over, still had the antibody response linked to protection. UK guidance says the need for a booster has not been established, so there is no booster schedule at the moment. Keep your vaccination record and ask us before future trips.
Is Vimkunya a live vaccine, and is it safe?
No, Vimkunya is not live. It uses virus-like particles that cannot cause chikungunya. The other chikungunya vaccine licensed in the UK, IXCHIQ, is live, and after a 2026 safety review the MHRA stopped its use in people aged 60 and over and in people with certain long-term conditions. The JCVI found no safety signal for Vimkunya but notes it has not yet been used widely. The most common side effects are a sore arm, tiredness, headache and muscle aches.
Is the chikungunya vaccine free on the NHS?
No. Chikungunya is not on the NHS list of free travel vaccines, so it is a private vaccine wherever you have it. At Longridge Travel Health Clinic, Vimkunya costs £180, and because it is a single dose there is no second appointment to pay for. Before vaccinating, the pharmacist checks that it suits you and your trip, and can advise on any other vaccines your itinerary needs.
Do I need a GP referral for a private vaccination?
No. You can book directly with us for any of the vaccines on this page. Same-day appointments are usually available, and there is no waiting list.
How much do private vaccinations cost?
Individual vaccines range from £40 to £240, and the price includes your appointment with the pharmacist. Meningitis B is priced separately at £140 per dose (£280 for the two-dose course). Get in touch and we will confirm the exact price for the vaccine you need before you book.
Which vaccines can I get free on the NHS instead?
Several, but only for certain ages or groups. Shingles, for example, is free on the NHS from age 65, and whooping cough is offered in pregnancy. If you are not sure whether you already qualify, ask us when you get in touch and we will always tell you honestly rather than sell you something you could get free elsewhere.
Can children have these vaccines?
For suitable vaccines, yes. We will confirm what is appropriate for your child’s age at the appointment. Some services at the clinic, such as blood tests and ear wax removal, are 16 and over, but vaccination age depends on the specific jab.
Is the private vaccine the same as the NHS one?
Yes. We use the same vaccines used in the NHS programmes, for example Shingrix for shingles and the standard MMR vaccine. The difference is convenience and access, not the vaccine itself.
Do you vaccinate for travel?
Travel vaccines are handled separately because the advice depends on where you are going. See our travel health service for hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and anti-malarial tablets.
How long does each vaccine last?
It varies by vaccine. MMR gives long-lasting protection after two doses; shingles protection is strong but not lifelong; flu is an annual jab. Our pharmacist will explain what to expect for the vaccine you are having.
Can I get more than one vaccine in the same visit?
Often yes, depending on the vaccines. Tell us what you are after when you book and we will advise whether they can be given together or need spacing out.
Other travel vaccinations
Most trips need more than one vaccine. Compare doses and prices across our full range, all given in clinic on Berry Lane.
View all travel vaccinationsSuitability, availability and the number of doses are confirmed at your consultation.
Your chikungunya vaccination.
A clear next step.
Travel vaccination advice on Berry Lane, serving Longridge, Preston and the Ribble Valley.
Longridge Travel Health Clinic54 Berry Ln, Longridge, Preston PR3 3JPGet directions
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