[at-l] Ticks and Pequots

[orangebug74@yahoo.com (Orange Bug)]

Those were some of the reasons I declined the offer of free vaccine.

While the efficacy is low, the vaccine does appear to reduce severity
of infection for those who do contact the deer tick and Lyme fever
rickettsia. Efficacy increases with each dose of the vaccine. 

The disease is easily treated with antibiotics only when it is
recognized. The classic bulls eye rash is not all that common a
finding. It is likely that many never have the rash nor find the tick
and get infection. It is also likely that other tick borne diseases
mimic Lyme, further complicating the picture. 

Personally, after my NJ/NY section in 4 weeks, I plan to take a dose of
doxycycline when I get home. I appreciate the "heads up" regarding the
mild winter experienced up north. 

BTW, everyone wish Papa Bear a safe and fun walk beginning tomorrow.
Have a good time out there!

Bill...

--- Papa Bear <papa_bear_nyc@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I thought about the vaccine and decided not to take it because:
> 
> 1) The side affects can be worse than the disease. (There may be a
> risk factor called HLA-DR4+ which you should test for.)
> 2) It takes too long (3 shots over a year's time).
> 3) The efficacy is low ...
> 4) Once you get the vaccine it would impossible to tell if you
> contracted Lyme in the future...
> 5) The disease is easily treatable with antibiotics.


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover
http://greetings.yahoo.com/