Study Finds MenB Vaccine Does Not Protect Men Against Gonorrhoea

A new Australian study finds the MenB vaccine does not prevent gonorrhoea infections in men, contradicting earlier research. UK authorities continue vaccination while monitoring data amid rising gonorrhoea cases and concerns over antibiotic resistance.

MenB Vaccine Found Ineffective Against Gonorrhoea in New Study

The Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine does not provide protection against gonorrhoea infections in men, according to recent research. Despite being offered to men at higher risk, including men who have sex with men, the vaccine has shown no significant effect in preventing the sexually transmitted infection.

The National Health Service (NHS) began offering the MenB vaccine to men who have sex with men last year, following earlier studies that suggested potential protective benefits against gonorrhoea. However, a new clinical trial conducted in Australia and published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates no meaningful difference in gonorrhoea infection rates between vaccinated individuals and those who received a placebo.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated that its ongoing studies will yield more comprehensive data and that no immediate changes to vaccination recommendations are planned.

Background on Gonorrhoea and the MenB Vaccine

Gonorrhoea is a common bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact. Symptoms can include pain, unusual genital discharge, and inflammation, though some cases are asymptomatic.

The 4CMenB vaccine was originally developed to prevent meningitis B in infants. The bacteria responsible for meningitis B and gonorrhoea are closely related, which led to investigations into whether the vaccine might also reduce gonorrhoea infections.

Since August 2025, the MenB vaccine has been offered to gay and bisexual men who have sex with men in the UK, based on earlier studies reporting a 38% reduction in gonorrhoea infections among vaccinated individuals.

Details of the Australian GoGoVax Trial

The University of New South Wales in Sydney conducted the GoGoVax trial, which enrolled 587 men and monitored them over a two-year period. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the MenB vaccine or a placebo.

The study found comparable rates of new gonorrhoea infections in both groups: 291 infections in the vaccinated group and 285 in the placebo group. The authors noted that these results align with two other studies, collectively providing

"strong evidence that the MenB vaccine is not effective for gonorrhea prevention."

UK Health Security Agency Response

The UKHSA has not altered its vaccination policy in response to the new findings. Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of considering a broad range of evidence.

"Over 30,000 people in England have started this course of vaccination, and this will provide more robust data on vaccine impact and effectiveness. These findings will be published in due course."

Gonorrhoea cases in England remain at historically high levels compared to a decade ago. In 2022, cases peaked at 82,592, decreasing to 63,943 in 2025, yet still double the number reported in 2015.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control identifies men who have sex with men as the group most disproportionately affected by gonorrhoea.

Expert Opinions and Public Health Implications

Dr Odile Harrison, associate professor at the University of Oxford's Population Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, described the results as

"disappointing"

but stressed that they should not halt efforts to develop an effective vaccine.

"Gonorrhoea remains a major global public health threat, particularly with the continued emergence of antimicrobial resistance, and an effective vaccine remains a high priority," she said.

Taku Mukiwa, head of health programmes at the sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, also expressed disappointment and called for a review of the vaccination programme by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

"If the evidence has changed, the approach has to change too.

Rates of gonorrhoea in the UK are sky high and this is particularly true among gay and bisexual men, and we're seeing more antibiotic resistant strains of the infection.

What we do know for sure is that condoms and regular testing remain the cornerstones for preventing and stopping onward transmission of STIs, and we must continue to work to bring down the stubbornly high rates of STIs in this country," he added.