Why Your Dog Can Get Vaccinated Against Lyme Disease And You Can’t
From: Curt Nickisch
Length: 07:26
Lyme disease has been around for a long time. At least 5,300 years. DNA tests show that the Iceman "Ötzi" found in a melting glacier in the Alps had been exposed to Lyme disease.
Good thing modern science has given us a vaccine. Too bad we don’t use it.
In 2002, the manufacturer pulled it off the market, citing low demand. Self-described "vaccine victims" had claimed side effects and filed class-action lawsuits. The data did not back up their assertions, and the FDA and CDC kept recommending the vaccine.
But the publicity scared people away, and prompted a second manufacturer to halt introduction of a better vaccine. Since then, no one’s bothered trying to develop a vaccine for the U.S. market, despite advances in science… and Lyme’s growing prevalence.
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Piece Description
Lyme disease has been around for a long time. At least 5,300 years. DNA tests show that the Iceman "Ötzi" found in a melting glacier in the Alps had been exposed to Lyme disease.
Good thing modern science has given us a vaccine. Too bad we don’t use it.
In 2002, the manufacturer pulled it off the market, citing low demand. Self-described "vaccine victims" had claimed side effects and filed class-action lawsuits. The data did not back up their assertions, and the FDA and CDC kept recommending the vaccine.
But the publicity scared people away, and prompted a second manufacturer to halt introduction of a better vaccine. Since then, no one’s bothered trying to develop a vaccine for the U.S. market, despite advances in science… and Lyme’s growing prevalence.
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Broadcast History
6/27/2012 WBUR, Here and Now
Transcript
SUGGESTED LEAD:
Lyme disease has been around for a long time. At least 5,300 years. DNA tests show that the “Iceman” found frozen in a glacier in the Alps had the Lyme bacteria.
Good thing, then, that modern science has given us a vaccine that gives us immunity against the tick-borne disease. Too bad we don’t use it.
Curt Nickisch has the story of the vaccine that society left on the shelf.
STORY:
FADE IN CLINIC NAT UNDER FOLLOWING NARRATION
Eleven-year-old Ned Kelly is in for his annual physical at a clinic in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. As part of his check-up, he’s getting a booster shot to protect him against Lyme disease. Ned doesn’t like needles, but he holds still while Dr. Joel Kaye squeezes the pink serum under his skin.
UP FULL (Time: 10 sec): You’re a good boy. Little pinch, we’ll be home free. All right, good job! Done. All right handsome. THEN...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Lyme disease has been around for a long time. At least 5,300 years. DNA tests show that the “Iceman” found frozen in a glacier in the Alps had the Lyme bacteria.
Good thing, then, that modern science has given us a vaccine that gives us immunity against the tick-borne disease. Too bad we don’t use it.
Curt Nickisch [NIK-ish] has the story of the vaccine that society left on the shelf.
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