Abstract | INTRODUCTION: Diagnoses of gonorrhoea in England rose by 26% between 2018 and 2019. Recent evidence that a vaccine against meningococcal B disease currently offered to infants in the UK (4CMenB) could additionally protect (with 31% efficacy) against gonorrhoea has led to renewed hope for a vaccine. A Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial of 4CMenB vaccination against gonorrhoea in adults is currently underway. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the potential public health impact of adolescent gonorrhoea vaccination in England, considering different implementation strategies. METHODS: We developed a deterministic transmission-dynamic model of gonorrhoea infection among heterosexual 13-64-year-olds stratified by age, sex and sexual activity. We explored the impact of a National Immunisation Programme (NIP) among 14-year-olds for a vaccine with 31% efficacy, 6 years' duration of protection, and 85% uptake. We also explored how impact might change for varying efficacy (20-50%) and uptake (75-95%), the addition of a catch-up programme, the use of boosters, and varying duration of protection. RESULTS: An NIP against gonorrhoea could lead to 50,000 (95% credible interval, CrI 31,000-80,000) and 849,000 (95%CrI 476,000-1,568,000) gonorrhoea infections being averted over 10 and 70 years, respectively, in England, for a vaccine with 31% efficacy and 85% uptake. This is equivalent to 25% (95%CrI 17-33%) of heterosexual infections being averted over 70 years. Vaccine impact is predicted to increase over time and be greatest among 13-18-year-olds (39% of infections 95%CrI 31-49% averted) over 70 years. Varying vaccine efficacy and duration of protection had a noticeable effect on impact. Catch-up and booster vaccination increased the short- and long-term impact, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A partially-effective vaccine against gonorrhoea infection, delivered to 14-year-olds alongside the MenACWY vaccine, could have an important population impact on gonorrhoea. Catch-up and booster vaccination could be considered alongside cohort vaccination to increase impact.
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Authors | Katharine J Looker, Ross Booton, Najida Begum, Ekkehard Beck, Jing Shen, Katherine M E Turner, Hannah Christensen |
Journal | BMC public health
(BMC Public Health)
Vol. 23
Issue 1
Pg. 1
(01 10 2023)
ISSN: 1471-2458 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 36624437
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2022. The Author(s). |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Humans
- Infant
- England
(epidemiology)
- Gonorrhea
(epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Meningococcal Infections
(epidemiology)
- Meningococcal Vaccines
(therapeutic use)
- Public Health
- Vaccination
- Proof of Concept Study
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