Lyme Disease Association

Vaccine

LYMERIX Meeting
On January 22, 2002 in Bethesda, MD., the LDA was able to get a private meeting with the FDA on the vaccine issue, despite reluctance by the FDA to grant the meeting. Congressman Chris Smith helped facilitate the setup of this meeting. LDA president Pat Smith invited Andrea Gaito, MD, President, International Lyme & Associated Disease Society, ILADS; Donald Marks, MD, former lab director for Cannaught; Steven Sheller, Esq., member, LDA's Professional Advisory Board; Albert Brooks, Esq.; and Pam Weintraub, former editor, Omni magazine, to present material to the FDA.

Remarks of Pat Smith, President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. before the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, January 31, 2001, Bethesda, Maryland.
The Lyme Disease Association’s mission is Lyme disease education, prevention, and research funding, so one might automatically assume we’re favorable to a safe and effective vaccine for Lyme disease. That’s certainly a valid assumption. The Association’s board consists of patients and families of patients—all of whose lives have been personally touched by this disease, and all who are dedicated to preventing others from experiencing the physical, mental, and emotional devastation Lyme disease can produce. To that end, we fund research projects, sponsor medical conferences and continue to work with Members of Congress developing federal legislation providing $125 million for Lyme disease research, physician education, and prevention.