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Message: <blockquote data-quote="C_Hallbert" data-source="post: 4364026" data-attributes="member: 42957">My story: In Spring 2020, my wife and I hunted for morels in the woods on the shaded slope of the a north side of our property. A week later she found a couple of ticks buried on my lower back. During May I was experiencing aching muscles, fatigue and low fevers of 100*F at night.When I attempted to seek medical care, the VA, I told them about the ticks and that I suspected a  rickettsial infection, but they refused to see me as the constellation of signs and symptoms I reported met the criteria for COVID 19. They advised me to rest, drink plenty of fluids and to go to an Emergency Room if I began to experience dyspnea  .I persisted and the finally examined me after a test me for COVID 19 proved NEGATIVE. The doctor examined me but never prescribed medication  A month later I was worse and the doctor finally requested a consult with an Infectios Disease Specialist, but I had to wait until August for an appointment.When the physician examined me he was wearing a Biohazard Protection Suite with a PAPR respirator that looked like something from NASA. He did listen and they took blood samples for specialized testing for diagnosing rickettsial infections. About eight days later they called me back.The physician entered the room in plain cloths and told me that I had two types of rickettsial infections: Erlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (both caused by rickettsias), but that I didn’t need treatment any longer because I’d overcome the illnesses and developed immunity.Truthfully, I’ve never regained the strength or endurance I lost. The delays in examination and treatment could have easily caused my demise as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is often fatal. I worked in Hospitals for 39 years in the emergency, acute and intensive care environment and was exposed to an enumerable number of diseases and various epidemics during my career, and never thought twice about rendering services due to danger of exposure because I’d accepted the risk as part of my profession.During the COVID 19 era, medical practitioners changed their time honored standards and began to protect themselves as their major priority far above the welfare of their patients. This change in philosophy comes at the expense of surrendering their honor and their integrity. I don’t believe that the field of Medicine will ever be the same…..P.S.This is also pertinent and not well known information related the the general theme being discussed:The development of vaccines for Lyme disease has experienced significant milestones and setbacks over the years.LYMErix Vaccine:   •   Development and Approval: In the late 1990s, SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) developed LYMErix, a recombinant vaccine targeting the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Clinical trials demonstrated approximately 76% efficacy in adults after three doses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved LYMErix on December 21, 1998, for individuals aged 15 to 70.   •   Market Withdrawal: Despite its efficacy, LYMErix faced declining sales due to concerns about potential side effects, including autoimmune reactions, and negative media coverage. Subsequent investigations by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found no causal link between the vaccine and the reported adverse effects. Nonetheless, GlaxoSmithKline discontinued LYMErix in February 2002.VLA15 Vaccine:   •   Development: Valneva, a French biotech company, developed VLA15, a multivalent protein subunit vaccine targeting six serotypes of OspA to provide broad protection against Lyme disease. In April 2020, Valneva partnered with Pfizer to co-develop and commercialize VLA15.   •   Clinical Trials: VLA15 progressed through Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, demonstrating favorable safety profiles and immunogenicity. In August 2022, the vaccine entered Phase 3 trials, aiming to evaluate its efficacy in a larger population.   •   Current Status: As of November 2024, VLA15 remains the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate in clinical development, with ongoing Phase 3 trials. If successful, regulatory submissions are anticipated in the coming years.Alternative Approaches:   •   Monoclonal Antibody Prophylaxis: Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s MassBiologics have developed a human monoclonal antibody designed for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against Lyme disease. This approach aims to provide seasonal protection through a single annual injection. Human trials are expected to begin soon.Conclusion:The journey to develop a Lyme disease vaccine has been complex, marked by the initial success and subsequent withdrawal of LYMErix, followed by renewed efforts with VLA15 and other innovative approaches. Ongoing research and clinical trials continue to strive toward an effective and widely accepted vaccine to combat Lyme disease.</blockquote>

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