GonQual: Acceptability of the gonorrhoea human challenge model to accelerate vaccine development in UK men.
281 million people worldwide were diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in 2020. Antimicrobial therapy for bacterial STIs is a key contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistant gonorrhoea is an urgent global health threat. Development of an efficacious gonorrhoea vaccine is a global health priority to address AMR. GonQual explored what people think and feel about a potential vaccine for gonorrhoea, focusing on how acceptable such a vaccine might be among different communities, and how acceptable a human challenge model for testing the vaccine might be.
The project combined quantitative surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews to explore the public’s views on vaccine benefits, concerns, and the factors that influence trust. Published in Vaccine, the study highlights the importance of public engagement when introducing new vaccines—especially for conditions that carry stigma or limited public understanding. GonQual provides key insights for future vaccine communication strategies and targeted rollout efforts.
Publication: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127013