### Lyme Disease and Vaccine Development Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of blacklegged ticks. These ticks are commonly found in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, North Central states, and on the West Coast of the United States. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, the disease can progress to more severe conditions affecting the joints, nervous system, and heart. Currently, the primary methods to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent and performing regular tick checks, especially during the warmer months when ticks are more active. However, these methods are not foolproof, and the need for more effective prevention strategies has led to the development of vaccines. Several pharmaceutical companies are working on vaccines to protect against Lyme disease. Moderna has announced that it is developing two vaccines for Lyme disease. Additionally, Pfizer and the French vaccine-maker Valneva SE are collaborating on a new Lyme disease vaccine, which is in the final phase of clinical trials. They plan to submit an application to the FDA in 2025. Although there was a setback in the trial due to data issues, the safety of the vaccine was not compromised. Interestingly, vaccines for Lyme disease have been available for dogs for many years. A human vaccine was also approved by the FDA in 1998, but it was withdrawn from the market three years later due to low demand influenced by media coverage of side effects and anti-vaccine sentiment. Efforts to improve Lyme disease detection are also underway. The LymeX Diagnostics Prize is a two-year, multimillion-dollar competition aimed at finding better ways to detect active Lyme disease infections in people. With these advancements, there is hope that future summers will see a reduced reliance on tick checks and insect repellent, thanks to effective vaccines and improved diagnostic methods.