New vaccine to tackle thousands of 'preventable' cases of gonorrhoea
Cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) have been 'rising steadily' in recent years, and it is the second most common bacterial STI in Scotland.
Latest figures show there were 5,999 diagnoses in 2023, a 59% increase since before the pandemic.
Those eligible for the new vaccine programme include gay and bisexual men at the highest risk of infection and those involved in selling or exchanging sex, regardless of gender.
Those who sexual health clinic professionals assess as being at a similar risk level are also eligible.
Gonorrhoea can cause significant pain and discomfort and, in rare cases, life-threatening sepsis.
The Scottish Government is funding the programme, which will begin in August.
Public health minister Jenni Minto said: 'This action is urgent and timely since the number of diagnoses has been high and the disease is becoming increasingly difficult to treat with antibiotics.
'The science tells us that this vaccine will potentially protect thousands of people and prevent the spread of infection.
'Anything which stops people from contracting gonorrhoea in the first place can have huge benefits, including ensuring our health system remains resilient by reducing the amount of treatment needed.'
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of the vaccination and immunisation division at Public Health Scotland (PHS) said: 'With gonorrhoea diagnoses having increased in recent years, the offer of the 4CmenB vaccine to those at highest risk of exposure is a welcome new intervention.
'This vaccination programme is expected to help control and prevent the spread of gonorrhoea.
'PHS is working with the Scottish Government and colleagues across NHS Boards to finalise plans for the roll out of this targeted vaccination offering to those at increased risk of gonorrhoea from August 2025.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow's CardioPrecision in world-first robotic heart surgery
Carried out by Dr Marijan Koprivanac and his team, the transcervical approach is intended to minimise risks associated with conventional open heart surgery with patients experiencing less pain and a faster recovery. It allows the implantation of either sutureless or conventional sutured valves through a tiny incision in the neck. Read more: CoreVista is the intellectual property of a company called CardioPrecision, which was spun out of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and InnoScot Health in 2007. InnoScot is funded primarily by the Scottish Government to help identify and develop healthcare innovations from the 155,000 professionals working across the NHS in Scotland. Dr Koprivanac said CoreVista is a significant advancement offering a minimally invasive alternative for patients with aortic valve disease. 'Combining the artificial heart valve with this new surgical technology means patients should experience less pain and less time in the hospital following heart surgery,' he explained. 'In fact, we believe that this may be one of the least invasive surgical heart valve replacement options available.' CardioPrecision is headed up by chief executive Ying Sutherland and is backed by a number of investors including InnoScot, London & Scottish Investment Partners, the Discovery Investment Fund and Scottish Enterprise. 'We are delighted to introduce this ground-breaking procedure to the medical community," Ms Sutherland said. Read more: "Our unwavering commitment to advancing cardiovascular care has driven us to develop this innovative product, which we believe could revolutionise the approach to cardiac surgery. This is a significant milestone for CardioPrecision, and we look forward to more exciting developments ahead.' Early clinical data was presented by Dr Koprivanac at the annual meetings of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery earlier this year. 'We congratulate CardioPrecision on its landmark breakthrough in robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement," said Graham Watson, chairman of InnoScot Health. "It represents a vital step in producing improved outcomes thanks to minimally invasive techniques for easier procedures, much quicker healing, and fundamentally, making patients' lives better. 'We are proud to be continuing to support those world-leading capabilities and to retain a presence on its board at such an important time in its success.'
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Sickness absence among teachers and council staff hits record high over 'breaking point' claims
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sickness absence rates for teachers and other council staff in Scotland have surged to a record high as local authorities were described as being left at 'breaking point'. A report by the Accounts Commission, the public spending watchdog, found absence levels among teachers rose in 27 out of 32 councils between 2022/23 and 2023/24, with an average increase of 11.7 per cent nationally. This represents an increase of 85 per cent since Covid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For wider council staff, sickness absence increased in 25 out of 32 local authorities, rising by 45 per cent since Covid and an average of 4.5 per cent nationally between 2022/23 and 2023/24. Stress, mental health and fatigue have been cited as key contributors to rising sickness absences | PA A total of 2.65 million days were lost to sickness across local government in 2023/24. This trend is mirrored in the Scottish Government workforce and NHS Scotland, with the latter reporting a sickness absence rate of 6.2 per cent until February last year - its highest level in the past decade. The Accounts Commission referenced a recent report that cited stress, mental health and fatigue as key contributors. 'The Chartered Institute for Personnel Development's Working Lives Scotland 2024 report highlights there is a growing unease across the public sector,' the report added. 'There has been a drop in the proportion of public sector employees saying they feel inspired at work and an increase in the proportion of staff feeling detached from their jobs and motivated only in monetary terms.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Teaching unions have also sounded the alarm over rising levels of abuse and violence in schools. The Accounts Commission said Scotland's councils urgently needed to make progress with workforce plans if they were to protect services and financial sustainability. The body said the number of staff employed by councils had risen, but this had not kept pace with ever-increasing demand. Multiple challenges are affecting Scotland's 260,000 council workers, the commission said, including struggles in recruiting and retaining staff. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Recruiting and maintaining a skilled local government workforce remains challenging and, at the same time, demand for council services is increasing,' it said in a new report. 'This is placing additional demands on the existing workforce and there are indications this is now impacting upon the wellbeing of an ageing workforce, with absence levels rising to a new high.' Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: 'This eye-opening report exposes the deeply damaging impact years of savage SNP cuts and gross mismanagement is having on Scotland's council workforce. Craig Hoy MSP. 'The record high sickness rates among staff paints a picture of local authorities being at breaking point due to SNP ministers asking employees to do more with less. They simply cannot meet the demands being placed upon them to try and protect the day-to-day services communities rely on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'With staff costs also rising, this situation is completely unsustainable going forward unless SNP ministers finally get a grip and give councils a fair funding deal. For too long the nationalists have passed the buck to councils and it is clear workers are paying a heavy price for those failures.' Jennifer Henderson, from the Accounts Commission, said: 'We all benefit from a skilled and motivated local government workforce. Staff are the most important resource that councils have. Councils must fundamentally reform how they deliver services and Scotland's 260,000 council workers are crucial to this. 'Councils need to align their existing workforce plans with their priorities so they can ensure their workforces are the right size and shape, and their staff have the skills they will need. In particular, they need to ensure workers have the digital skills necessary for the scale of changes ahead. 'We have seen many councils already responding to this challenge, and there are valuable opportunities for local bodies to learn from each other.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Workforce planning is an operational matter for local authorities. The Scottish Government has provided councils with a record £15.1 billion this year - a real-terms increase of 5.5 per cent.
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Salvation Army care home closures: Lib Dems urge Scottish Government to intervene
Liberal Democrats have called on the Scottish Government to intervene over plans by the Salvation Army to close two Edinburgh care homes. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, who is MSP for Edinburgh Western, wants the government to help find alternative operators for the two threatened homes, Davidson House in Colinton Road and Eagle Lodge in Ferry Road. On June 30, the Salvation Army announced a 'formal consultation' on the plans to close five of its 11 care homes across the UK, including the two in Edinburgh. Davidson House, Colinton Road, is earmarked to close along with Eagle Lodge in Ferry Road. | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Families with relatives in the homes said the news 'came from nowhere'. It is understood the two homes together have more than 50 elderly residents, who would have to move elsewhere. Mr Cole-Hamilton has written, along with Forth ward councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, who is candidate for Edinburgh Northern in next year's Holyrood elections, to Health Secretary Neil Gray, voicing concern about the proposed closures. In the letter, they said: 'The Salvation Army have noted that they intend to transition from providing residential care for older people to grow their community-based support model. As a result residents face eviction in a matter of months. 'Family members of residents have warned that to take those who live in these homes away from familiar staff and facilities would be 'absolutely criminal' and that they are concerned that their loved ones 'will not survive a move'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In Scotland, almost 2,000 people are stuck in hospital every month due to their discharge being delayed. Gaps in care at home or in the community are a key reason for such delays. This will only worsen if care homes are allowed to close.' And the letter went on to urge Mr Gray to intervene. 'While responsibility for social care is primarily an issue for local care boards and local authorities, we would urge you to use the Scottish Government's connections and influence to assist the Salvation Army in transitioning the operation of their Edinburgh care homes to an alternative provider so that residents are not removed from the care that they have become familiar and accustomed to.' The Salvation Army has said its homes do not have the specialised clinical expertise required by an ageing population with more complex conditions and their buildings would also require significant modernisation.
