In late 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for use on humans the first vaccine to guard against Lyme disease. The vaccine, manufactured by SmithKline Beecham, is being marketed under the trade name LYMErix. Currently, the vaccine is only approved for use in people between ages 15-70.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has developed a series of guidelines regarding the LYMErix vaccine. The committee has recommended that certain individuals at risk of developing Lyme disease should consider receiving the vaccine.

Clinical trials of LYMErix at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health indicate the vaccine is safe and effective for children aged 4-14. The results have been submitted for FDA review, but it is not yet known when the vaccine will be approved for use on children.

How the vaccine works

The LYMErix vaccine works by preventing Lyme disease infection. It produces antibodies that actually enter the tick and kill the bacteria inside it. The vaccine cannot be used to treat someone once that person is infected. Those who already have Lyme disease must take antibiotics in addition to any other treatments needed to control the symptoms of the disease. The recommended LYMErix vaccine schedule includes three doses administered by injection over a 12-month period; children receive the same immunity in two months after two injections, according to the results of clinical trials.

In clinical trials of adults, the vaccine’s effectiveness was shown to be about 80 percent among study participants after three injections. Even with the vaccine, there is no absolute guarantee against getting Lyme disease; therefore, it should be used in conjunction with the other personal protection strategies for avoiding Lyme disease.

Side effects of the vaccine

LYMErix does not contain any live bacteria, and therefore cannot cause Lyme disease among those who receive the vaccine. The most common reported side effects associated with the vaccine include soreness at the injection site and short-lived flu-like symptoms.

However, some adults have reported symptoms of arthritis after being immunized, according to allegations in a class-action lawsuit involving more than 70 plaintiffs.

The lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania, contends that SmithKline Beecham, the maker of LYMErix, failed to warn doctors and the public that nearly one-third of adults in the United States have a gene that makes them susceptible to a certain type of arthritis. The vaccine can trigger the condition, called autoimmune arthritis, the lawsuit claims. SmithKline Beecham has responded that the vaccine is safe for adults and children.

Anyone considering the vaccine is advised to consult with his or her healthcare provider concerning the recommendations for use of the vaccine. It is yet to be determined if a booster injection will be necessary in order to maintain immunity to the disease.

Here are numerous strong and great pluses of pharmacies online. The medications that are affordable at an online drugstore are normally more economical than which are affordable in a nearest pharmaceutical establishment.