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I found that article very interesting, and think describing the pushback as PR threats from conspiracy theorists oversimplifies just a bit. Aa mentioned in the

I found that article very interesting, and think describing the pushback as PR threats from conspiracy theorists oversimplifies just a bit. Aa mentioned in the article, it's very possible the vaccine triggers a rare, genetically associated autoimmune disorder normally caused by Lyme disease. It was also released roughly concurrently with at least one vaccine that was legitimately withdrawn for safety reasons. Compared to, say, the covid-19 vaccines, or the MMR vaccines, I find the public hesitation more understandable. It's not like a disease with an especially high mortality rate or one that's spread person to person. Not saying the push to shame it out of existence was right, since it sounds like the benefits outweighed the risks at least for some people, but there's a lot to unpack. Definitely worth a read.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 6y ago
The argument I've always read is that it should be made available to people who live in areas with lots of ticks, not that it should be pushed on everyone.
- touisteur 6y ago
  Yes, kind of like how you should get shots for yellow fever or tropical diseases when going on some trips. But if you begin saying you need shots to go in Poland, it's maybe not going to be accepted as easily as for tropical countries... BTW the side effects of the shots we give to go to French Guyane is something to behold. Roommate was literally covered with red dots and it itched like hell.
henearkr 6y ago
Some serious theories to explain chronic Lyme precisely suggest that it is an autoimmune reaction caused by the bacteria biofilm proteins. That would explain both why the chronic Lyme can persist even after the bacteria have seemingly been eradicated, and the effects of the vaccine sometimes observed. In this case the vaccine's purpose is defeated, as the real life-spoiler is the chronic Lyme. Acute Lyme is well treated by the antibiotics.
KraftKacke 6y ago
Autoimmunity is so scary. It sucks that pathogens evolve to hide by exploiting the body's friendly fire avoidance. Btw. the molecular mimicry of the spike protein may cause autoimmunity as well. Time will tell if that only applies to SARS2 or the vaccine as well. No source: There was a paper on a model for cross reacting to normal cell proteins in /r/COVID19, but I am on mobile and blocked reddit everywhere now. Should be easy to find.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 6y ago

The argument I've always read is that it should be made available to people who live in areas with lots of ticks, not that it should be pushed on everyone.

touisteur 6y ago
Yes, kind of like how you should get shots for yellow fever or tropical diseases when going on some trips. But if you begin saying you need shots to go in Poland, it's maybe not going to be accepted as easily as for tropical countries... BTW the side effects of the shots we give to go to French Guyane is something to behold. Roommate was literally covered with red dots and it itched like hell.

henearkr 6y ago

Some serious theories to explain chronic Lyme precisely suggest that it is an autoimmune reaction caused by the bacteria biofilm proteins. That would explain both why the chronic Lyme can persist even after the bacteria have seemingly been eradicated, and the effects of the vaccine sometimes observed. In this case the vaccine's purpose is defeated, as the real life-spoiler is the chronic Lyme. Acute Lyme is well treated by the antibiotics.

KraftKacke 6y ago

Autoimmunity is so scary. It sucks that pathogens evolve to hide by exploiting the body's friendly fire avoidance. Btw. the molecular mimicry of the spike protein may cause autoimmunity as well. Time will tell if that only applies to SARS2 or the vaccine as well. No source: There was a paper on a model for cross reacting to normal cell proteins in /r/COVID19, but I am on mobile and blocked reddit everywhere now. Should be easy to find.