It’s tick season, which could be the worst in a decade.
With climate change altering tick habitats, more Americans are encountering these parasites. This not only increases the risk of Lyme disease but also other serious conditions like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and the alpha-gal red meat allergy.
On that note, there might be a vaccine for Lyme disease on the horizon. This spring, Pfizer and Valneva announced their intention to seek regulatory approval for a new Lyme disease vaccine. A vaccine was previously available in the late 1990s but was removed from the market after just three years due to lawsuits and public distrust over side effects.
Whether this newer vaccine will be received better in today’s climate of vaccine skepticism remains uncertain.
For insight into how it may be viewed by those in high-risk rural areas, KFF Health News spoke with a group of hunters.
Hunters spend a lot of time outdoors where ticks are prevalent. According to surveys, they tend to be conservative, rural, and male, which are demographics often linked to skepticism about vaccines, as noted by Ashley Kirzinger from KFF, a nonprofit health information organization.
Understanding the Threat
Lyme disease can lead to a range of symptoms if untreated, including fevers, chills, headaches, and even serious complications like arthritis and neurological issues. The CDC estimates around 476,000 people in the U.S. may be diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, a number partly attributed to an expanded range of ticks since 1995.
So, would these hunters be willing to take a Lyme vaccine if it were available? Jess Manganelli, an enthusiastic turkey hunter, said she would absolutely consider it. Six others expressed interest but wanted more information about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
Manganelli felt she might have already had Lyme disease, experiencing symptoms after a tick bite, but was never tested for it. Most in the group were familiar with someone affected by Lyme, which often poses diagnostic challenges and can lead to long-term issues.
Personal Experiences with Lyme
Author and conservationist Steven Rinella, who hosts a hunting show, shared his own Lyme disease experience. He and his son contracted it years ago, resulting in serious complications for Rinella, which lasted months. “I thought my life had changed,” he recalled, “but I recovered, as far as I know.” This encourages him to consider a prospective vaccine if it proves safe.
Meanwhile, hunter Jeremy Hollingshead expressed hesitance based on a friend’s long-term issues with Lyme, but noted he has been lucky enough not to contract it himself. In contrast, Julian Barnes, who has seen a relative struggle with the disease, is more open to a vaccine, feeling that he’d need to truly understand its workings if it became a reality.
The Path Forward
The new vaccine candidate, which will require four doses, performed well despite not meeting one trial criterion due to a lack of Lyme cases among participants. The companies claim it could reduce cases by about 75% and plan to pursue regulatory approval.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former anti-vaccine activist, is now advocating against Lyme disease and aims to find a vaccine or treatment. If the new vaccine receives FDA approval, his endorsement might influence those who trust him, especially those skeptical of vaccines.
Interestingly, only one hunter from the group stated definitively that he wouldn’t be interested in the Lyme vaccine, suggesting that his strong belief in personal durability might play a role in his decision. Even so, he expressed curiosity about how his peers would respond to new information.
“Hunters care about the wildlife; they love their deer and fellow hunters,” he pointed out.
