Meningococcal B vaccine ineffective in gonorrhea prevention for men who have sex with men
A large-scale randomized controlled trial has found that the meningococcal B vaccine is ineffective at preventing gonorrhea in men who have sex with men. These results contradict earlier observational studies that had prompted some governments to implement vaccination programs for high-risk groups.
Why it matters
The findings force a re-evaluation of public health strategies for controlling the spread of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Scanning electron micrograph of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The meningococcal B vaccine is ineffective in gonorrhea prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) at high risk of infection, according to findings from the world's largest randomized controlled trial (RCT) into possible efficacy published in the New England Journal of Medicine . Contrary to evidence in observational studies that led to vaccination programs abroad, GoGoVax found that 4CMenB (meningococcal B vaccine) had no effect on the incidence of gonorrhea.
The results support the findings of two other RCTs, DOXYVAC and MenGO , reporting no protective effect of 4CMenB against gonorrhea in MSM at high risk of infection.
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