The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Threat of untreatable gonorrhea can be addressed with existing meningitis vaccine

Peer-reviewed/2 observational studies/1 modeling study/person

• Three research papers identify effective ways to improve protection against gonorrhea infection amid rising cases and increased drug resistance

  
  

• In a mass vaccination program in South Australia, an observational study of the effectiveness of the 4CMenB vaccine showed that two doses of the vaccine were 33% effective against gonorrhea in adolescents and young adults

  
  

• During 2016-2018, an observational study of the health records of 16-23 year olds in New York City and Philadelphia, USA, showed that receiving two doses of the 4CMenB meningitis vaccine provided 40% protection against gonorrhea

  
  

The findings of three related papers published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases show that amid rising cases worldwide and increasing bacterial resistance to drugs used to treat gonorrhea , the meningitis vaccine may help improve the ability to prevent gonorrhea

Professor Helen Marshall said: "While recent research has provided evidence that the 4CMenB vaccine is associated with a reduced risk of gonorrhea, the vaccine is only available to adolescents and young adults for a short period of time

The authors acknowledge some limitations

In a related review article, Prof.