, Columnist
The First Lyme Disease Vaccine Failed. It's Time to Try Again.
Years ago, a shot protecting against the tick-borne illness struggled with lack of demand. But with cases soaring, uptake would be much higher now.
The cause of much suffering.
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Nearly half a million Americans received an unpleasant surprise this summer, according to insurance billing data: a new diagnosis of Lyme disease. Those numbers could shrink if scientists succeed in developing a vaccine for the tick-borne illness.
Low consumer demand scuppered a previous vaccine in the 1990s, but the situation is very different now. Cases of Lyme have exploded. Doctors and the public are also now more aware that infectious diseases can leave some patients with debilitating chronic conditions.