OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with willingness to be vaccinated (WTV) against Lyme disease (LD) among adults in the United States.

METHODS: An adaptive self-explicated preference-elicitation survey was administered to adults who 1) lived in endemic (high incidence of LD) or bordering states or 2) traveled to ≥1 endemic state in the past year. Thirty-one attributes related to LD symptoms and potential LD vaccines were identified as relevant to WTV in qualitative interviews. WTV to prevent LD, demographics, vaccine attitudes, and potential risk factors for LD were collected.

RESULTS: Among 505 participants recruited through internet panels, 213 and 202 lived in endemic and bordering states, respectively, and 90 traveled to endemic states. Mean (SD) age was 54.6 (16.3) years and 60% were female. The three vaccine attributes rated most important were efficacy, duration of efficacy, and risk of serious side effects. The least important attributes were injection mode (subcutaneous or intramuscular) and dosing schedule. Over 65% of participants indicated WTV. Those reporting highest WTV had the following characteristics: prior LD, positive vaccine views in general, and occupational exposure to LD. Participants residing in endemic or bordering states reported 69.0% and 55.9% WTV, respectively. Participants who lived in wooded areas reported higher WTV (73.1%) than those who did not (53.5%). The most common characteristic of participants with low WTV was negative views regarding vaccines in general. Additionally, participants with lower income or less education reported lower WTV.

CONCLUSIONS: Most people with greater risk of geographic exposure to LD would be willing to take an effective and safe vaccine for preventing LD if it were available. WTV differed by perceived exposure to LD, attitude toward vaccines in general, and potential risk factors for LD. Education about LD and LD vaccines may increase WTV among people at risk for LD.