Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025
Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
Published on: November 5, 2019
Long-term 4CMenB Vaccine Effectiveness Against Gonococcal Infection at Four Years Post-Program Implementation:
Bing Wang1,2, Lynne Giles2,3, Prabha Andraweera1,2
1Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Insights
The 4-component meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine shows moderate effectiveness against gonococcal infections in adolescents, decreasing over time. This vaccine may also reduce the risk of recurrent gonorrhea, suggesting potential benefits beyond initial protection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- South Australia implemented a 4-component meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine program for adolescents in 2019.
- The study evaluates the long-term vaccine effectiveness (VE) and impact on gonococcal infections 4 years post-implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term effectiveness of the 4CMenB vaccine against gonococcal infection.
- To evaluate the vaccine's impact on reducing gonococcal infection rates and recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized disease notification data from SA Health.
- Employed screening and case-control methods to estimate VE.
- Conducted time-to-event analyses for reinfections and negative binomial regression for vaccine impact (VI).
Main Results:
- Two-dose 4CMenB vaccine showed 44.3% VE against gonorrhea, decreasing to 26.2% after 4 years.
- VE was higher in females (48.7%) than males (38.0%).
- Vaccination was associated with a 36.5% reduction in gonococcal infection incidence and a lower risk of reinfection.
Conclusions:
- The 4CMenB vaccine offers moderate, albeit waning, effectiveness against gonococcal infections.
- The vaccine may play a role in reducing recurrent gonorrhea cases.
- Further evaluation of booster doses and optimal dosing intervals is warranted.
Background:
A 4-component meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine program was introduced in adolescents in 2019 in South Australia. We aimed to evaluate long-term vaccine effectiveness (VE) and impact (VI) on gonococcal infection 4 years after implementation of the program.
Methods:
Disease notification data were provided by SA Health. VE was estimated as the reduction in the odds of infection using the screening and case-control methods. Time-to-event analyses assessed vaccine effect on reinfections. VI was estimated as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) using negative binomial regression models.
Results:
At 4 years after implementation of the program, 2-dose VE against gonococcal infection was 44.3% (95% CI, 35.1%-52.2%) using chlamydia patients as controls. Lower VE estimates were demonstrated in those >48 months post-4CMenB vaccination (26.2%; 95% CI, -2.6% to 47.0%) compared with those who had been vaccinated within ≤48 months (46.0%; 95% CI, 36.3%-54.2%). Slightly higher VE estimates were observed in females (48.7%; 95% CI, 36.9%-58.2%) compared with males (38.0%; 95% CI, 22.0%-50.7%). The risk of a second episode of gonococcal infection was lower in vaccinated gonococcal cases (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.682; 95% CI, 0.450-1.034). The adjusted IRR was 0.635 (95% CI, 0.421-0.957), with an observed 36.5% reduction in gonococcal infection.
Conclusions:
4CMenB demonstrates moderate effectiveness against gonococcal infection, with a lower VE estimate after 4 years postvaccination. 4CMenB may reduce the risk of recurrent gonococcal infection. The requirement for a booster dose and dosing interval warrants evaluation.
More Related Videos
12:53Cell-Free Scaled Production and Adjuvant Addition to a Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein from Chlamydia muridarum for Vaccine Development
Published on: March 16, 2022
08:04Quantitative Examination of Antibiotic Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Aggregates Using ATP-utilization Commercial Assays and Live/Dead Staining
Published on: February 8, 2019
