Given that there are 16+ tickborne illnesses, the impact would be limited. If you get bitten by a tick then you should probably just go on antibiotics anyway, since there is no comprehensive test for tickborne illnesses.
The fact that there are no good vaccines really makes me mad, especially as a hiker.
Plenty of people who get Lyme don't get the rash, and don't necessarily even know they were bitten by a tick. Deer ticks are tiny and you have to check yourself thoroughly to see them. An effective vaccine would be very helpful.
I mean how would we actually know that though if we don't even know what all the tickborne illnesses are, and if there is no test for many of them?
In any case, Lyme disease is very common and on that basis alone, a vaccine would prevent a lot of suffering, regardless of what other suffering remains in place.
Seriously though, if you actually hike in the northeast outdoors dealing with ticks are not a rare situation. In this past week alone I have had 2 deer ticks and 5 wood ticks on me . 1 wood tick actually did bite and it would be absurd to start an antibiotic course at this point.