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Recent scientific findings have clarified that the Meningitis B vaccine, which has been offered to men who have sex with men (MSM) as a preventive measure against gonorrhoea, does not actually reduce the incidence of this sexually transmitted infection. Although the NHS began providing the vaccine to at-risk men last year following earlier studies suggesting it might offer protection, new evidence challenges this assumption. A trial conducted in Australia and published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* found no significant difference in the rates of gonorrhoea infections between vaccinated men and those who received a placebo.
The vaccine, known as 4CMenB, was originally developed to prevent meningitis B in infants. Since the bacteria responsible for meningitis B and gonorrhoea are closely related, there was hope it could also help reduce gonorrhoea infections. The UK introduced the MenB vaccine for gay and bisexual men from August 2025 based on prior studies that showed a potential 38% reduction in gonorrhoea cases among vaccinated individuals. However, the new research from the University of New South Wales involving 587 participants in the GoGoVax trial monitored over two years found nearly identical infection levels: 291 cases in the vaccinated group and 285 in the placebo group.
Responding to these findings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated it will not change current vaccination guidelines immediately. Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of assessing a broad range of evidence. She noted that with over 30,000 people in England having commenced the vaccination regimen, more comprehensive data on the vaccine’s impact and effectiveness is expected and will be released in due course.
Despite the disappointing trial results, experts emphasize that gonorrhoea remains a critical public health challenge, particularly with rising antibiotic resistance. Cases in England hit a peak of 82,592 in 2022 and, although reduced to 63,943 in 2025, are still double what they were a decade earlier. Men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Dr Odile Harrison from the University of Oxford expressed disappointment but urged continued efforts to develop an effective vaccine. Meanwhile, Taku Mukiwa from the Terrence Higgins Trust called for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to reconsider the current vaccine programme in light of the new evidence, underscoring the ongoing need for condom use and regular testing to combat persistent high rates of sexually transmitted infections
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