An already existing vaccine against meningitis type B could also protect against gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease.
Three studies published in
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
came to the same conclusion.
This infection, also called gonorrhea or "hot piss" and caused by a bacterium, mainly affects people under 30, men in particular.
Untreated, it can lead to an increased risk of contracting HIV or a risk of infertility in women.
More than 80 million new cases were recorded worldwide in 2020, a figure on the rise.
Protection from the first dose
In 2016, the WHO set itself the goal of reducing the incidence of gonorrhea by 90% worldwide by 2030. However, no vaccine exists at the moment and the decline in the effectiveness of drugs against bacteria raises fears that this disease may become more resistant.
Hence the interest in vaccines against meningococcal meningitis B.
According to a first study conducted in Australia, the two-dose 4CMenB vaccine appears to be 33% effective against gonorrhea.
Figures found in the second study conducted in the United States: two-dose vaccination seems to provide 40% protection against STIs.
One dose of vaccine alone would be 26% effective.
A health and economic interest
These two studies only evaluate data and therefore do not make it possible to prove a direct causal link.
Clinical trials are therefore necessary.
Even if the vaccine against meningitis B is not an ideal answer to gonorrhea, it could make it possible to move forward in particular to find a specific vaccine, according to the researchers.
For its part, the third study carried out in the United Kingdom sought to model the health and economic effects of the use of the vaccine against meningitis B against gonorrhoea.
Vaccinating those at risk would be the most cost-effective way to bring down the number of cases.
It could prevent 110,000 cases in England and save eight million pounds over 10 years.
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