The university is participating in the effort to determine the efficacy of what could be the first vaccine to prevent Lyme disease in children ages 5 to 17. Rutgers has been selected as a clinical trial site for the national research study by drug company Pfizer Inc. and French vaccine maker Valneva SE to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a vaccine for the prevention of Lyme disease in children over the age of 5.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi that is transferred to humans through the bite of an infected tick. If left untreated, the bacteria can spread through the bloodstream and cause serious problems in the brain, joints and heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease, which is more common in children and teens. Currently, there are no approved vaccines to prevent Lyme disease. To read the full story.