We believe that the lyme vaccine, Lymerix, has a
lot to offer. It is given to individuals between 18 and 70 who are at a significant risk for lyme disease, or tic exposures. It is not yet approved for kids. It appears to be about 75%
effective. If a hundred un-vaccinated people were bitten significantly by tics, maybe 10 would develop lyme's disease. With the vaccine, after a full three course vaccine, only about two or three
would be affected. It works by an interesting mechanism. When a tic bites, it sucks out human blood. If that blood has lyme antibody in high enough quantity, the blood will kill the borrellia organism
(lyme bacteria), after the tic ingests it into its stomach, where the bacteria lives.
Normally the tic has to be in place for 24-48 hours in order for lyme transmission to occur. This is due to the fact that the
tic has to digest, and then regurgitate the blood back into the skin in order to transmit the disease, a process taking at least a day.
The vaccine generates protective antibodies in adults, becoming significant
after the second dosage, and becoming significantly higher after the third. It is not yet known how long the antibody levels will remain high, and it's possible, though doubtful, that annual boosters will be
necessary.
The vaccine can cause a very sore arm about 20% of the time, with swelling and pain. Treatment is ice, Advil, and time.
Given that we probably see 15 or 20 lyme cases in the summer
between July and mid-September, we feel the vaccine is a very good choice. In individuals with unexplained joint pains, or rheumatoid arthritis, it has an increased incidence of triggering arthritis, and it should
be avoided in those people.
It is covered by most plans in high risk individuals, and can be given very quickly in the "Q" room at the front of the office.
Announce that you need a lyme vaccine only, and
the nurse can give it with hopefully a five- to ten minute turnaround time.
