On Health Horizon: Lyme Vaccines

Lyme disease is now the most common infection caused by ticks. About 16,000 Americans get it each year. But two new vaccines may dramatically reduce the number of cases. CBS 'This Morning' Health Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay has the report.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported Thursday that the "Imulyme" vaccine prevented the disease 92 percent of the time after patients took three separate doses.

Another new vaccine, called "Lymerix," prevented the disease about 80 percent of the time after three separate shots. It was also shown to prevent people from getting the disease who had been exposed to Lyme ticks, but did not yet have any symptoms.

FDA approval for the vaccines may come as soon as the end of this summer, but no one can say for sure.

Another study in the same journal finds that people with type-2 diabetes (also called "adult onset diabetes") have a six-times greater risk for heart attack. This rate is about the same as that faced by people who have already had one heart attack.

Researchers suggest that doctors should treat people with type-2 diabetes as they do patients who have already had a heart attack and make sure their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels are all well controlled.

It's possible that such patients will have to take heart medication. But they should especially control risk factors for heart disease more aggressively. That means really taking a close look at things like blood pressure and diet, and monitoring it.