Sexually transmitted Herpes 2 is a common infection. It can be treated and suppressed with medication, but an effective vaccine would be a boon.
A recent vaccine study looked at vaccination in preventing HSV-1 “oral” herpes, and HSV 2 “sexual” herpes (although either can be oral or sexual, we tend to refer to them in the above ways.)
The vaccine prevented HSV 1….but not HSV 2. This is disappointing as HSV 2 is the primary concern and bother to most people.
So….for now, prevention of Herpes requires barrier methods (condoms), avoidance of sexual activity during ‘active’ phases of disease (when lesions are present), and suppression therapy with medications (although the full benefits of this in prevention remain unclear.