A significant study has concluded that the Meningitis B vaccine offers no protection against gonorrhea infections, despite its use in at-risk populations. The findings have prompted calls for a reconsideration of current vaccination programs.
Dr. Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), stated that the agency is not making immediate changes but will continue to monitor evidence. Over 30,000 individuals in England have initiated the vaccination course, and this data will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the vaccine's impact and effectiveness, with future publications expected.
Gonorrhea cases remain at historically high levels. In England, the peak was recorded at 82,592 cases in 2022. While numbers decreased to 63,943 in 2025, they are still double the figures from 2015. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control identifies men who have sex with men as the most disproportionately affected group.
Dr. Odile Harrison, an associate professor at the University of Oxford's Population Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, described the results as disappointing but emphasized that they should not halt the search for 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, echoed the disappointment and urged the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-evaluate the vaccine program. "If the evidence has changed, the approach has to change too," Mukiwa stated.
He further noted, "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." Mukiwa stressed 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."