In Brief: New Lyme disease vaccine shows promise, Mississippi joins IDDHL

New Lyme disease vaccine shows strong results 

A new Lyme disease vaccine for humans has shown a 70% efficacy rate in its third phase of clinical trials, but hesitancy brews as some participants did not have successful outcomes.^1,2

This is the first Lyme disease vaccine available since LYMErix, a vaccine released in the early 2000s, was pulled from the market due to widespread adverse effects.²

Pfizer and biotech company Valneva started collaborating in April of 2020 to develop vaccine candidate PF-0730740 aimed at preventing Lyme disease in individuals aged five and up. A placebo-controlled, randomized, observer-blinded trial was conducted in places with a large number of reported Lyme disease cases in the US, Canada, and Europe. 

The CDC estimates roughly 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated annually for Lyme disease. It is the most common vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in the US and is spread via tick bite. 

This disease can manifest in the dental chair through head and neck symptoms that mimic dental issues including TMJ pain, toothaches, Bell’s palsy, and a stiff neck. Although it’s not a common condition, dental professionals should be privy to Lyme disease’s manifestations at all stages to avoid misdiagnosis and streamline patient treatment; according to BMC Oral Health, patients experiencing facial pain due to Lyme disease are frequently wrongly diagnosed with TMDs. Conducting a thorough head and neck screening to search for the ticks that cause Lyme disease is also essential.³

If approved for human use, PF-0730740 can prevent patients with undiagnosed infections from undergoing unnecessary dental treatments. 

Second US state to join IDDHL 

Mississippi has become the second state to join the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact (IDDHL), potentially inciting other states to follow as the legislation gains traction. The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) believes this push reflects a growing interest in a compact model of care that allows clinicians practice mobility.⁴

Headed by the AADB, the IDDHL aims to provide clinicians and dental hygienists with geographical flexibility—they can practice across multiple states whilst maintaining state authority over licensure and discipline. It requires hand-skills exam, background checks, and disciplinary reporting to safeguard patient safety and uphold industry professionalism. 

Louisiana was the first state to adopt the IDDHL last year, but it is currently under consideration in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. 

On this decision, one RDH from Mississippi said: "This is definitely a win-win solution ... I believe this will lead to significantly more dentists and dental hygienists coming to practice in our state because the IDDHL Compact allows for a more streamlined path to licensure, while still maintaining our state's authority in the licensing process."⁴ 

Dr. Clifford Feingold, chair of the AADB, concurs. In a press release from the AADB, he expressed optimism about Mississippi’s decision reflecting increased support for a compact that keeps strong standards at the center.⁴

References 

1. Travis J. New Lyme disease vaccine offers protection—but falls short of trial goals. Science. March 23, 2026. https://www.science.org/content/article/new-lyme-disease-vaccine-offers-protection-falls-short-trial-goals  

2. Lyme disease often presents Pfizer and Valneva announce Lyme disease vaccine candidate demonstrates strong efficacy in Phase 3 VALOR trial. March 23, 2026 Pfizer. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-valneva-announce-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate  

3. Weise C, Schulz MC, Frank K,et al. Acute arthritis of the right temporomandibular joint due to Lyme disease: a case report and literature review. BMC Oral Health. 2021 Aug 16;21(1):400. doi:10.1186/s12903-021-01744-4 

4. Mississippi joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact. The American Association of Dental Boards. March 24, 2026. Press release.