Meningitis Shot Fails to Stop Gonorrhea Among Men

A new study shows that a vaccine made for meningitis does not help stop the spread of gonorrhea among men who have sex with other men. Researchers had hoped that 4CMenB, a meningococcal B vaccine, might lower the risk of gonorrhea because an earlier study suggested a 38 % reduction. In this larger trial, more than six hundred men were enrolled and split evenly between the vaccine and a placebo. After two years, about 48 % of participants in both groups caught gonorrhea – the same rate for those who got the shot and those who did not.The lead scientist, Kate Seib of Griffith University, said the data clearly show that 4CMenB offers no protection against this infection. No vaccine currently exists for gonorrhea, and antibiotic‑resistant strains are becoming a bigger problem. The earlier promising results may have been influenced by other factors that were not controlled for in the new study. Experts warn that while 4CMenB is safe and protects against certain meningitis strains, men should still use condoms and get regular testing to prevent gonorrhea. These findings were first shared at a conference in Denver and will be published later after peer review.