PRINTER'S NO. 3570
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
943
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY TALLMAN, MAY 24, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 24, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Urging the United States Food and Drug Administration to
promptly consider candidates for Lyme disease vaccinations
currently seeking approval under the drug approval process.
WHEREAS, Vector-borne diseases, which are those diseases
caused by ticks, mosquitoes and fleas, have more than tripled
from 2004 to 2016; and
WHEREAS, Tick-borne diseases are becoming a serious public
health problem in this country; and
WHEREAS, Tick-borne diseases are increasing exponentially and
are caused by an infection with a variety of pathogens,
including bacteria, viruses and protozoa; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-
borne illness in the United States, affecting more than 300,000
individuals each year; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia
burgdorferi and transmitted to humans through the bite of an
infected black-legged tick; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease threatens the quality of life of
residents of and visitors to this Commonwealth and poses a
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significant economic burden on Pennsylvania and the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Residents of and visitors to Pennsylvania are
especially vulnerable to Lyme disease and tick-borne diseases,
as evidenced by this Commonwealth's ranking as the leading state
in reported cases; and
WHEREAS, Each of the 67 counties of this Commonwealth has
reported ticks infected with bacteria associated with Lyme
disease and other tick-borne diseases; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, the Pennsylvania Task Force on Lyme Disease
issued a report which highlighted the significant economic
burden of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses on the
United States and Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, More than $1 billion in annual medical expenses in
the United States have been attributed to Lyme disease as well
as up to $10,000 per patient annually in lost productivity; and
WHEREAS, Patients with Lyme disease required 87% more visits
to the doctor and 71% more visits to the emergency room than
those patients without Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force on Lyme Disease applied cost
estimates to the Commonwealth and determined that, when
considering Pennsylvania's approximately 7,400 confirmed and
reported Lyme disease cases, the annual estimated cost in lost
productivity alone may likely exceed $74 million; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has taken important steps regarding
awareness, prevention and surveillance of Lyme disease by
establishing the Task Force on Lyme Disease and launching the
"Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick" campaign; and
WHEREAS, While such actions remain an integral part of
precautionary efforts, rising statistics and costs represent the
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need to focus on preventative care and treatment; and
WHEREAS, Treatment options exist for individuals diagnosed
with Lyme disease but there is currently no vaccination on the
market despite one previously being available to consumers; and
WHEREAS, LYMErix, which was taken off the market in 2002 due
to lack of sales and mounting fears of side effects, was
developed by the company currently known as GlaxoSmithKline and
approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Data conducted on LYMErix show no difference in the
incidence of adverse events, other than hypersensitivity,
between those individuals who received the vaccine and those who
did not; and
WHEREAS, Recent news has indicated that at least five groups
of researchers at companies and academic centers are working on
vaccinations for Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, Valneva, a global independent vaccine company,
announced in December 2016 that its vaccine candidate against
Lyme disease, VLA15, was progressing into clinical testing in
the drug approval process following clearance from the FDA;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Food and
Drug Administration to promptly consider candidates for Lyme
disease vaccinations currently seeking approval under the drug
approval process; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the United States Food and Drug Administration at 10903 New
Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20993-0002.
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