Meningococcal B Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine May Also Protect Against Gonorrhea

The meningococcal B vaccine appears to offer some cross protection against gonorrhea and is the first vaccine to show effectiveness against this primarily mucosal infection.

Gonorrhea is a major public health problem globally. Natural infection does not produce protective immunity, drug resistance threatens control programs, and previous vaccine attempts have failed. Because surveillance data suggested a decline in gonorrhea after use of group B meningococcal outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccine (primary sequences of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitides have 80% to 90% genetic homology), researchers conducted a retrospective, case–control study supported by the vaccine manufacturer. In New Zealand, where every person has a unique National Health Index Number allowing data linkage, meningococcal B vaccine was given as a three-dose OMV primary series to individuals aged 6 weeks to 20 years from 2004 t…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Meningococcal B Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine May Also Protect Against Gonorrhea

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Reviewing Author