An existing meningitis vaccine offers protection against gonorrhea, pointing to a new way to combat the spread of this sexually transmitted disease, according to three different studies published on Tuesday (12.04.2022) by the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. .
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 82 million people were infected with gonorrhea last year. The number of cases increases as resistance to the drugs used grows, which complicates the treatment of the disease.
Currently, there is no vaccine for gonorrhea, a disease that mainly affects people under the age of 30 – usually men – and can only be prevented by using a condom or not having sex.
Three investigations, in three different countries
However, three new studies have shown that a vaccine against meningitis B-type bacterial infection could also work against gonorrhea.
In the first, Australian researchers analyzed data from more than 53,000 adolescents and young adults who received two doses of the meningococcal B vaccine 4CMenB. In his conclusion, and although it was very effective against meningitis and sepsis, it was also 33% effective against gonorrhea.
Study leader Helen Marshall said the results were “vital for informing meningitis vaccination programs and policy decisions globally.”
Potential significant financial savings
Meanwhile, another study conducted in the US revealed that two doses of the vaccine provided 40% protection against gonorrhea, while one dose offered 26%. In this case, they examined the health records of 110,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 23 from two American cities, and compared cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia with meningococcal vaccination rates.
Finally, the third study carried out in Great Britain used a model to analyze the health and economic impact of the use of the gonorrhea vaccine. Scientists calculated that a vaccination campaign targeting men who have sex with men would prevent 110,000 cases and save eight million pounds ($10.4 million) over a decade.
Gonorrhea spreads easily because many carriers are unaware of their infection and unintentionally pass it on to new sexual partners. If left untreated, it can cause infertility in both sexes and increases susceptibility to contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
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