Vermont is facing a significant problem with Lyme disease, having the second-highest 3-year average incidence rate for the disease in the United States. Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine available to prevent Lyme disease. However, there may be hope on the horizon. The University of Vermont Medical Center, along with the Vaccine Testing Center at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, will be participating in a worldwide Phase 3 clinical study to investigate the efficacy and safety of an investigational Lyme disease vaccine candidate.
The study, known as the Vaccine Against Lyme for Outdoor Recreationists (VALOR), is being sponsored by Pfizer. It is enrolling participants who are five years old and older. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria found in ticks, and infected tick bites can transfer the bacteria to humans, leading to symptoms such as a characteristic rash, fevers, and fatigue.
The UVM study will span approximately 30 months, during which participants will be randomly assigned to receive three doses of the vaccine or a placebo. The study will require at least seven visits to UVM Medical Center, as well as four or five blood draws. If a participant develops Lyme disease during the study, additional blood samples may be required. It is essential for participants to report any changes in their health to the study team.
The VALOR study is taking place at up to 50 sites worldwide where Lyme disease is a significant issue, including countries such as Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United States. The Phase 2 studies conducted so far have shown promising results.
If you are interested in participating in the VALOR study, you can visit the UVM LCOM Vaccine Testing Center Current Opportunities webpage or call 802-656-0013.
