One reason Lyme disease is so scary is that it’s really common to not notice that you got bit. How often do you inspect the back of your knees? (If you live in tick country, it should be “every time you get back from being in the woods”, but many don’t know/practice this.)
It’s a common story to hear about people who don’t connect the dots, and don’t get properly diagnosed early when it’s more treatable.
Ok... and you think the people that don't know to check for ticks will know to get a Lyme vaccine? This doesn't seem logical to me. Most people in those environments know to check for ticks in my experience. The ones who don't are not the type to request a vaccine that they probably don't even know about.
It's easier to get one vaccine a year than to check 50 times (to be generous) a year. Also that would only tell you that you have a tick and then you need to check again that you see the red swelling to know you are infected. Then you need to get the antibiotics and then you need to hope that works.
Also I expect/hope vaccinations will develop into some kind of regular maintenance thing like software updates. With the mRNA technology that would be really easy. Scary for many people, also, but really, why not? Every year there are scientifical reasons to update the immunization for almost everyone against certain antigens. This way we may eliminate many strains of Sars-Cov-2, Influenza, other cold viruses, measles, maybe even HIV and the Herpes family eventually.
"It's easier to get one vaccine a year than to check 50 times (to be generous) a year."
This isn't a replacement, you still have to check even if you're vaccinated.
"Also that would only tell you that you have a tick and then you need to check again that you see the red swelling to know you are infected."
Wrong. The red swelling does no occur in all cases. You can be infected without it. Generally, one should have the tick examined to see how long it was attached (if they don't know).
"Then you need to get the antibiotics and then you need to hope that works."
You would need to do this even if you have the vaccine (assuming the tick was attached for longer than 24 hours or there's reason to believe it was interrupted from a previous meal and then but you - testing the tick will tell).
Your "refutations" don't actually contradict anything I said, I just don't dump everything that comes to mind or that could come to mind into every HN comment I write.
Prevention is always better than a cure, so yes you still have to check. Yes I know the Erythema is optional. Yes I know a vaccine isn't 100% effective. I'm actually a licensed veterinarian you are trying to mansplain here...
Most people take a shower every day, especially if they're doing stuff outside. You really only have to check once per day since the transmission risk is essentially zero if attached for less than 24 hours.
