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Oluwatobiloba Jaiyeola
The World Health Organisation has said that despite global efforts to control sexually transmitted infections, the overall rates of these infections remain extremely high worldwide.
The WHO said STIs have major impacts on the sexual and reproductive health of individuals, adding that innovations in safe and effective vaccines are required to aid in the fight against STIs.
According to the global health agency, the development of these innovations could help transform the prevention and treatment of STIs.
To encourage innovative approaches to curb the conditions, the WHO on Tuesday, announced the launch of the first online portal on vaccine development for STIs.
The launch of the portal, the UN health agency stated, lays out a road map containing steps to take in fast-tracking vaccine development for STIs.
The portal tagged: STI Watch is said to consist of technically sound and updated information on the most common STIs and the vaccine development status for each.
The WHO said the launch was done in collaboration with the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition.
It said, “The first online portal on vaccine development for sexually transmitted infections was launched today at the 23rd International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections World Congress.
“WHO and NIAID along with other key stakeholders have developed a roadmap for STI vaccine development and introduction. The roadmap lays out the next steps for accelerating STI vaccine development, including assessing the public health need and value of new vaccines; defining their preferred product characteristics; and outlining the pathway to developing, evaluating, and licensing the vaccines.
“This collaboration was extended to AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition to create a web-based clearinghouse for STI vaccines in order to raise their profile globally,” the WHO said.
According to the global health agency, most STIs often go untreated because they cause no symptoms.
The WHO warned that if left untreated, STIs are easily transmitted to others, and can result in serious health consequences, including greater risk for HIV, infertility, negative pregnancy outcomes, and cancer.
“Vaccines currently exist for only two common STIs, human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus. Where they have been implemented widely, these vaccines have led to significant decreases in cervical cancer and in acute and chronic hepatitis,” it noted.
The UN health agency further disclosed that some studies to develop vaccines against other infections are currently being worked on.
“Currently, research to develop vaccines against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and HIV is advancing but not complete.
“Vaccine development for gonorrhoea has become increasingly promising. Randomized controlled trials using licensed vaccines against a related pathogen, serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB), are underway to assess whether these vaccines also prevent gonorrhoea.
“A vaccine candidate for chlamydia has entered early clinical trials, and research studies into vaccines for syphilis and trichomoniasis are in earlier stages of development,” it revealed.
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