Pfizer Says Lyme Vaccine Prevented 70% of Cases as U.S. Tick-Bite ER Visits Hit 2017 High
Updated
Updated · WBAY · Jul 5
Pfizer Says Lyme Vaccine Prevented 70% of Cases as U.S. Tick-Bite ER Visits Hit 2017 High
3 articles · Updated · WBAY · Jul 5
Summary
Pfizer said in March its late-stage Lyme disease vaccine trial showed 70% protection, offering a potential new tool as the 2026 tick season intensifies.
CDC data showed April emergency-room visits for tick bites reached their highest level since 2017, while public health experts estimate nearly 500,000 Americans get Lyme disease each year.
About 90% of U.S. Lyme cases are reported in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest, and incidence has nearly doubled since 1995 as warmer weather expands tick activity.
Untreated infections can turn serious—about 60% of untreated patients may develop arthritis, with rarer heart and nervous-system complications that can linger even after antibiotics.