STI Vaccines

Vaccines could make a huge contribution to lowering rates of STIs and the associated consequences. A recent bright spot in STI innovation has been the rollout of vaccines to prevent hepatitis B and HPV and scientists believe it is possible to develop preventive and/or therapeutic vaccines for other STIs, including chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The development of these vaccines are important as most infections are asymptomatic and go undiagnosed and untreated. However, funding to advance R&D for these vaccines has been insufficient and most research remains mired in the early stages.