A new vaccine to prevent Lyme disease in humans is entering the final phase of clinical trials, manufacturers Pfizer and Valneva announced last week.
The vaccine, which likely won't be available for a few years, is slated to provide more protection against the tickborne disease.Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker specializing in medical and health information. She uses her experience in medical research to ensure content is accurate across multiple Dotdash Meredith brands.
The vaccine candidate, called VLA15, is being tested as four doses in humans and has had promising results so far. In the upcoming Phase 3 clinical trial, researchers will further investigate the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. The new vaccine, VLA15, is a multivalent protein subunit vaccine, which works by targeting the outer surface protein A of"The protein that the vaccine targets is called OspA and this is a protein that's really really abundant on the bacteria," Dr. Pritt said. "If the body has already been exposed through a vaccine and generated a really strong immune response, then the body can fight off the bacterium as soon as it possibly even enters the body.
Though the VLA15 vaccine could be effective in helping those at risk for contracting Lyme disease both in the U.S. and in Europe, people may have to wait a few years before we see any shots in arms.that the study will last just shy of two and a half years.
"I think it would be something available to at-risk populations, but not something that would be recommended for everyone," Dr. Pritt said. "For people that are outdoors a lot and potentially exposed to ticks—for example, people who like to hike and camp, or park rangers—those are people that would really benefit from getting the vaccine."According to Dr.
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