Minas Gerais, Brazil, has initiated the administration of a novel vaccine for chikungunya developed by the Instituto Butantan in collaboration with the Franco-Austrian pharmaceutical company Valneva. The first recipient, Luiz Felipe Motta, shared personal motivation for getting vaccinated, citing his mother's ongoing suffering from chikungunya symptoms as a driving force. This marks a pivotal moment for public health in the region, as the vaccine is part of a broader pilot program aimed at combating the chikungunya virus.

The vaccine received approval from Brazil's health regulatory agency, Anvisa, in 2025 and is currently being distributed in ten selected cities across Brazil, including municipalities in Ceará, Sergipe, the interior of São Paulo, and four cities in Minas Gerais. This pilot vaccination campaign serves not only to protect individuals but also aims to gather crucial data on the vaccine's effectiveness within diverse communities. The project reflects a strategic initiative in Brazil's public health to mitigate outbreaks of the chikungunya virus, which has seen a resurgence in recent years.

The targeted demographic for this vaccination effort is primarily adults aged 18 to 59 who are not immunocompromised. As the program progresses, it is expected to broaden awareness of chikungunya and its impacts, while also monitoring post-vaccination health outcomes among participants. This step is vital in reinforcing public health responses to vector-borne diseases in Brazil, especially in light of the country’s experiences with similar outbreaks that affect quality of life significantly.