Don’t Let a Vaccine Become the Only Answer to Lyme Disease

There is a silent, rapidly growing epidemic in the United States, one that my family is no stranger to, unfortunately.

Lyme disease enters the body quietly and without warning. Nasty, almost microscopic, circle-shaped bugs called ticks carry the bacteria and transmit it to both humans and animals. The bacterial infection is characterized first by a rash, headache, fever, and chills. Later arthritis, neurological, and cardiac disorders are possible.

Growing up in a heavily wooded area of New Jersey, it was normal for me to spend all day in the backyard or riding dirt bikes through the woods, turning my playground into a daily danger zone. Pennsylvania and New York are also cited as the worst states for ticks, particularly those carrying Lyme disease. With upwards of 476,000 cases diagnosed annually, the stealthy disease is becoming more prominent, yet still underreported.

Lyme often presents as mononucleosis, or Lupus, a contagious viral illness known for symptoms like extreme fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. Because of this, Lyme can fly under the radar, with many patients being misdiagnosed.

On March 23 of this year, Pfizer and Valneva announced that a Lyme disease vaccine candidate demonstrated strong responses in Phase 3 of their VALOR Trial. This was “a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, observer-blinded trial conducted at sites in areas of high incidence of Lyme disease across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.”

As someone who went through misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, followed by years of a grueling oral medication regimen and intravenous treatments multiple times a week, the development of a successful vaccine should be a light in the dark. But it isn’t. Rather than instilling hope, it raises more than one red flag.

TRENDING ARTICLES

breaking

BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt to Join Fox News as Contributor

Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell

opinion

Victor Davis Hanson: Why Ireland Is So Hostile to Israel

Victor Davis Hanson

news

FBI Tracked Susie Wiles Phone, Email Communications With Journalists, Lawyers, Political Advisors, New Documents Show

Fred Lucas

I have questions.

Will a vaccine protect against all relevant strains of Lyme or only some? How effective will it be over time? Will people mistakenly assume they’re fully protected and become less vigilant about tick prevention? Will rural and outdoor communities have equitable access if it’s approved?

With no answers yet, it’s hard to trust the possibility of this vaccine succeeding more than its predecessor.

The new Lyme vaccine candidate has been designed differently from the older one, LYMERix®, which was discontinued by the manufacturer in 2002, citing insufficient consumer demand. There is no way to comment on whether it is ultimately safe or effective because there are not enough results or data from clinical trials and regulatory reviews.

An effective vaccine that protects against Lyme disease would be highly valuable, but it’s not enough. Too many Americans already struggle with the disease and deserve better.  Existing diagnostic tests have extreme limitations, particularly in early infections, and very few physicians have the knowledge or skill to care for a patient with Lyme.

Policymakers shouldn’t treat vaccination as a substitute for investing in better diagnostics and treatment. Research funding for Lyme disease has historically lagged behind the disease’s growing burden. It’s time to change that.

The Kay Hagan Tick Act (S.2398) is an important step to acknowledge and effectively treat patients with Lyme disease. First signed into law in 2019, Congress moved to reauthorize the bill through 2030. Federal funding for the program lapsed last September, but it is up for renewal. The reauthorization would increase support for state and local health departments to identify, report, prevent, and respond to vector=borne disease.

Not only should the funding tackle preventative measures but it must also support those whose symptoms have been swept under the rug, convinced by unknowing doctors that their problems are psychosomatic. Consequently, many like me have suffered for years without answers.

Lyme disease stole much of my teenage years along with my trust that doctors would provide solutions. I want every new prevention tool to succeed, but I also worry that the excitement surrounding a Lyme vaccine would distract from the problems patients have faced for decades.

A vaccine shouldn’t become an excuse to ignore the larger failures in Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. Public health efforts should continue to emphasize tick awareness, better diagnostics, and improved treatment alongside any vaccine development.