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The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘World-first' gonorrhoea vaccine to be rolled out in England
A vaccine for gonorrhoea will be rolled out in England as part of a world-first programme, officials have announced. The move, hailed as a 'landmark moment for sexual health', will aim to tackle rising levels of the sexually transmitted infection (STI). Gonorrhoea cases in England topped 85,000 in 2023, the highest since records began in 1918, with warnings over some strains being resistant to antibiotics. The vaccine is an existing jab, known as 4CMenB, that is currently used against the meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: 'The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistance strains of the bacteria.' Eligible patients will be identified and contacted in the coming weeks, with the jab offered through local authority-commissioned sexual health services from 1 August. At the appointment patients will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B. Doyle added: 'NHS teams across the country are now working hard to plan the rollout and ensure we hit the ground running, while the routine mpox vaccination programme builds on the vital progress the NHS has made in recent months in reaching as many eligible people as possible.' Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. Symptoms can include green or yellow discharge, pain when urinating and pain and discomfort in the rectum. For women, symptoms can include lower abdominal pain or bleeding between periods. However, many people do not have symptoms. The jab contains proteins from neisseria meningitidis – the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease – which is closely genetically related with neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea. Studies by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) suggest the 4CMenB vaccine has between 32.7% to 42% effectiveness against gonorrhoea, and while vaccination would slash the risk of becoming infected it would not eliminate it completely. However, the JCVI said the vaccination would be beneficial, as previous gonorrhoea infection is thought to offer little protection against future infections. The programme comes amid warnings that cases of gonorrhoea that are resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone – usually the first line of treatment – are on the rise in England. This means the bacteria that causes the STI has developed the ability to survive and multiply even when exposed to the antibiotic. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Some cases are also classed as 'extensively drug resistant' – or XDR – meaning the infection did not respond to ceftriaxone or the second line of treatment. In March, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed there were 17 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea between January 2024 and March 2025. In the same period, there were nine XDR cases reported, compared with five cases between 2022 and 2023. Dr Sema Mandal, consultant epidemiologist and deputy director at UKHSA, said: 'Not only will this rollout provide much needed protection to those that need it most, but it will make the UK the first country in the world to offer this protection and a world leader in protecting people against gonorrhoea.' The health minister Ashley Dalton urged people to take up the vaccine offer 'not only keep each other safe but help tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance'. She added: 'By targeting those most at risk, we can reduce transmission rates from this unpleasant disease that is becoming harder to treat and prevent thousands of cases over the next few years.' Richard Angell, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, described the jab as a 'gamechanger'. 'This alone could cut 40% of new gonorrhoea cases,' he said.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
World's first gonorrhoea vaccination to be rolled out on NHS
The NHS added that 'efforts should be made to ensure that the vaccine is offered to those at similar risk, including but not limited to transgender women and gender-diverse people assigned male at birth'. Dr Amanda Doyle, the national director for primary care at NHS England, said it was 'a huge step forward for sexual health' and would 'reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistance strains of the bacteria'. The vaccine is an existing jab, known as 4CMenB, that is currently used to protect people against the meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. Those eligible will be contacted and able to get the jab through their local sexual health clinic from Aug 1. They will also be offered free jabs for mpox, the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis A and B, while at the appointment, the NHS said. Symptoms for gonorrhoea include green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating and pain and discomfort in the rectum. For women, it can also cause lower abdominal pain or bleeding between periods. But for many, especially women, the infection can be symptomless and lie undetected for years. 'Game changer' The jab contains proteins from neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease, which is closely genetically related with neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea. The vaccine is between 32.7 to 42 per cent effective against gonorrhoea, according to studies, and will not eliminate the infection altogether. But the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation said it would reduce spread, especially as a previous gonorrhoea infection is thought to offer little protection against future infections. Richard Angell, the chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, described the jab as a 'game changer'. 'This alone could cut 40 per cent of new gonorrhoea cases,' he said. The programme comes amid warnings that cases of gonorrhoea that are resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone – usually the first line of treatment – are on the rise in England. This means the bacteria that causes the STI has developed the ability to survive and multiply even when exposed to the antibiotic. Some cases have also been classed as extensively drug resistant (XDR) meaning the infection did not respond to ceftriaxone or the second line of treatment. In March, UKHSA revealed there were 17 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea between January 2024 and March 2025. In the same period, there were nine XDR cases reported, compared to five cases between 2022 and 2023. Dr Sema Mandal, a consultant epidemiologist and deputy director at UKHSA, said: 'This vaccination programme is a hugely welcome intervention at a time when we're seeing very concerning levels of gonorrhoea, including antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea.' She added: 'Not only will this roll-out provide much needed protection to those that need it most, but it will make the UK the first country in the world to offer this protection and a world leader in protecting people against gonorrhoea.'
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout to start on the NHS to tackle rising levels of the STI – are you eligible?
ENGLAND will roll out the world's first gonorrhoea vaccine campaign this summer. The NHS said it will begin immunising against the sexually transmitted infection, also known as 'the clap', in August. 1 Health chiefs reckon they can prevent around 10,000 cases per year with an existing meningitis vaccine. Cases have tripled since 2012 and hit a record 85,000 in 2023. Local sexual health clinics will offer the jab to gay and bisexual men, who are most at risk. Patients will receive the 4CMenB vaccine for meningitis B, which has been found to nearly halve the chances of catching gonorrhoea in adults. The jab is already routinely given to babies to protect them from MenB, but its protection wears off as they grow up. Vaccination could also head off growing concerns about superbug versions of the infection, which are resistant to antibiotics. Dr Amanda Doyle, of NHS England, said: 'The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health. 'It will be crucial in helping to reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria.' Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection spread by unprotected sex. Many people do not have any symptoms but if it is left untreated it can spread and lead to infertility. It is the second most common STI in Britain by new cases per year, after chlamydia. The vaccine rollout was approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) after research by Imperial College London suggested it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS £8million over the next 10 years. Dr Sema Mandal, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'In 2023 we saw gonorrhoea diagnoses reach their highest since records began in 1918. 'Not only will this rollout protect those that need it most, but it will make the UK the first country in the world to offer this. 'STIs aren't just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of your sexual partners.' Public health minister Ashley Dalton added: 'Once again our NHS is leading the way.'
