It’s Lyme disease season — here’s what to do until a vaccine is released

With renewed interest in vaccines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s hope that another vaccine could be on the way to tackle one of America’s other big problems: Lyme disease.

The Times Union reported that positive strides in discussions centered around vaccines that could develop a shot to prevent humans from contracting Lyme disease.

The report noted that there once was a vaccine developed called LYMErix, which “prevented 76% and 92% of infections” with three injections, but production halted when sales declined drastically in the early 2000s.

Now, researchers at MassBiologics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have been working on a jab that could be administered annually. Similar to the flu shot, the shot — which has been in the works for nearly a decade — could provide relief for those who work in or relax outdoors while protecting themselves from the bites of ticks.

Clinical trials are underway

Dr. Mark Klempner of MassBiologics explained that they are trying to change the public’s opinion of preventive care, specifically stressing that it’s a “medicinal shot versus a vaccine.” (“It is medicine that bypasses the immune system, gives you exactly what you need and nothing else,” Klempner said.)

The company started a trial earlier this year. Assuming everything goes as planned, the shot could be available by the spring of 2024.

Here’s what they are trying to find, via the Times Union:

The year-long first clinical trial, which began in February and is currently underway in Nebraska where recipients have had no prior exposure in Lyme disease, is “designed to show that increasing doses remain safe.” Following the first trial will be another year-long trial that will test how long the antibody remains in the bloodstream to remain effective against future Lyme exposure.

As soon as someone receives this shot, which will require annual injections, they would immediately be protected against Lyme disease for what Klemper is hoping will last for the entirety of the tick season between March and October.

Who will it help?

While it won’t help people that already had or have Lyme disease, those who were previously infected could be receive the shot.

“People who have had Lyme disease before can get it again,” said Klempner, according to the report. “The reason they can get it again is because the antibodies they developed when they got the disease are not the ones that block the transmission from a tick. That’s what we’re supplying.”

Wash clothes immediately after you’ve been in an area where ticks might be found.

Two other companies — Pfizer and Valneva — are developing a Lyme disease vaccine, according to the report. The first trial targets youth, from ages five to 17 years; the second trial spans to a larger age bracket, from ages five to 65. The first trial passed in 2018 and the second and final trial started in March of this year, the report said.

How is Lyme disease transmitted and what are the symptoms?

With Americans getting set to hit the road this summer and once again cherish the great outdoors, they will be checking themselves twice whenever visiting wooded or tree-lined areas of parks.

With May being Lyme disease Awareness Month, it’s important to understand how the disease actually works. Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites. Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are found in the northeastern and midwestern US, while those on the west coast need to keep an eye for western black-legged ticks.

Symptoms typically include fever, headache, fatigue, and a skin rash. If left untreated, things can become complicated, with the infection possibly spreading to joints, the heart, and the nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antibiotics can help treat patients in the early stages with the most common drugs being Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, or Cefuroxime.

Approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, according to the CDC.

How to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease

The best way to keep yourself safe this summer is to prepare before you head outside. Many areas of the US are expecting frequent encounters with ticks this season, so knowing where to expect ticks is the first move toward keeping yourself safe.

The CDC says ticks typically can be found in “grassy, bushy, or wooded areas,” and sometimes even on animals, which means they can be found in your backyard.

You can take preventive measures through treating your clothes (and whatever else you bring) with products that contain 0.5% permethrin, which can be applied to boots, clothings, and camping gear.

When you return from your day at the park, be sure to check your clothing for ticks and take a look at your clothing and your pets too.

The CDC said that a full body check after returning from areas with ticks is a smart play, especially examining these areas on your body:

  • Under the arms
  • In and around the ears
  • Inside the belly button
  • Back of the knees
  • In and around hair
  • Between the legs
  • Around the waist