Why isn't there a working Vaccine for Lyme's Disease yet?

Question: I know there was one that was being worked on, which is why the CDC had to write down very rigid (and only moderately accurate) guidelines for their Lyme diagnostic procedures, in order to quantify an illusive illness. It mimics Chronic Fatigue syndrome, FMS, even Alzheimers and Parkinson's-- and yet, when the original vaccine was found to _give_ people Lyme's instead of prevent it (oops, scary!), it was shelved and nothing more came of that. Yes, I have a vested interest- I have Lyme's disease, my children have it (passed through my womb when I was pregnant and undiagnosed). My continuing research scares me- Lyme's is often underestimated and standard tests can be inaccurate or, worse, falsely negative, leaving undiagnosed people in pain and untreated for years or even decades. I was sick for sixteen years before I got a positive western blot, not uncommon for folks who who have chronic Lyme. (BTW, I got sick in the 80's in SC, not a "Lyme State")

Answers:
There was a vaccine until about Spring 2002. It was called LYMErix but was discontinued due to very low sales and possible ineffectiveness. I guess it wasn't popular enough with doctors!

Other Answers:
Lyme's is a very tricky subject and I have come to learn alot about it recently. Since its a virus and not a bacteria (its a spirokeet) it can many boundaries that even modern medicine cannot. I can store itself in fat cells and can actually cross the blood brain barrier and can be dormant for many years. People don't always test positive b/c the virus is stored in their fat or brain tissues and not until theres a major weight loss or added stress may the spirokeets be realease or become active. Becase it takes on so many forms its hard to diagnose and to treat even with a vaccine. Since a vaccine is always a form of the virus (just a weaker one) there will always be a chance of it back firing or causing worse symptoms (liek acute arthritis). I know there is supposed to be a new drug out that is able to cross the barriers that the virus can so it might actually help or possibly get rid of it all together. the only advice i have for people who dont have it is even if u have the slightest symptoms(aching) get tested and GET THE DRUGS. they wont hurt you for the most part (maybe a bit of side effects for two weeksbut thats it) despite what they sat you can get bitten and not have the bulls eye and still get the disease so keep ontop of yourself and always check yourself after being outside.

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Just wanted to say that a spirochete is a kind of bacteria, not a virus.

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