Latest news with #MenB
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from 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 resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from 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 resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout to start on the NHS to tackle rising levels of the STI – are you eligible?
Vaccination could tackle the rise of drug-resistant superbugs 'LANDMARK MOMENT' World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout to start on the NHS to tackle rising levels of the STI – are you eligible? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A vaccine will be offered to gay and bisexual men, who are most at risk (stock image) Credit: Getty - Contributor 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. What is Gonorrhoea 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.'
West Australian
01-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
The Kids Research Institute: Perth researchers make meningococcal breakthrough with combined vaccine
Parents could soon be able to immunise their children against all five common strains of meningococcal after Perth researchers demonstrated a combined vaccine was safe and effective in protecting children against the deadly disease. The existing immunisations for meningococcal types A, B, C, W and Y are the combined MenACWY jab and a separate jab for MenB. Researchers at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia, alongside national and international partners, found a 'pentavalent' vaccine taking in all five strains was as good at protecting against meningococcal as the two jabs given separately. It could eliminate the need for multiple jabs in children under the age of five and people aged 10-25 — the two main risk groups for meningococcal. 'The results of the study showed that there was no interference in those (immune) responses, because we know both those vaccines are protected against meningococcal disease, and that it was safe and well tolerated,' said Professor Peter Richmond, head of the Vaccine Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre and head of paediatrics at UWA's medical school. 'Really, this is a major advance in prevention of meningococcal disease globally.' Although rare, the nasty disease can quickly become life-threatening if it gets into the bloodstream or membranes lining the spinal cord and brain. Children who survive are often left with long-term health complications like brain injuries, scarring or amputated limbs. Chelsea Perrin's daughter Tahlea, 7, is one of those survivors, contracting meningococcal W in 2018 at just six months. 'The night she got sick . . . I woke up probably about three o'clock in the morning, and she was just really, really unwell,' Ms Perrin said. 'I didn't know what was wrong with her, but I knew that she just needed to get straight to the hospital. There was something seriously wrong.' Living in Geraldton at the time, Ms Perrin drove her infant daughter straight to hospital. Upon arrival, she noticed Tahlea had a few spots on her head — the tell-tale rash of advancing meningococcal. 'She was going in and out of consciousness. She wasn't breathing very well, and then they rushed her straight through,' she said. Doctors had to put Tahlea into an induced coma, and they were fearful enough for her life that they told Ms Perrin to say her goodbyes. 'Before they put her under they they told me, give her a kiss, you might not see her alive again, so kiss her now, say what you need to say to her,' she said. 'That was really hard. And then we were flown from Geraldton to Perth and straight to ICU.' After three weeks in intensive care and 162 days — more than five months — on a general ward, her little battler made it through. 'It was horrific. A lot of it's a blur . . . it was just so terrifying,' Ms Perrin said. The sinister disease left Tahlea with scarring to 80 per cent of her body, amputated fingers and toes, epilepsy and a brain injury that renders her unable to talk, walk or swallow on her own. 'Almost every system of her body has had some sort of damage,' Ms Perrin said. 'It's scary . . . this disease is not a game, and it doesn't discriminate.' She said a five-strain combined vaccine on the national schedule would be a game-changer for families. 'The more people are vaccinated, the less people that have outcomes like this,' Ms Perrin said. The MenABCWY's recent approval by the United States' Food and Drug Administration means the green light for use in Australia could be closer than we think. 'We would normally expect once it's been licensed in one country, it starts to become available in other countries within a couple of years,' Professor Richmond said. 'We're just waiting to hear when that will be.' Despite a difficult start to life, seven-year-old Tahlea is living life to its fullest. A competitive dancer, she's the reigning champion in her division alongside sister, Ava. 'She's got this special charisma about her, that just makes everyone fall in love with her personality,' Ms Perrin said. She said if her 'extremely cheeky, very bright and bubbly' daughter is still smiling, they can get through anything.
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Combined meningococcal vaccine gives hope to parents
Parents could soon be able to immunise their children against all five common strains of meningococcal after Perth researchers demonstrated a combined vaccine was safe and effective in protecting children against the deadly disease. The existing immunisations for meningococcal types A, B, C, W and Y are the combined MenACWY jab and a separate jab for MenB. Researchers at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia, alongside national and international partners, found a 'pentavalent' vaccine taking in all five strains was as good at protecting against meningococcal as the two jabs given separately. It could eliminate the need for multiple jabs in children under the age of five and people aged 10-25 — the two main risk groups for meningococcal. 'The results of the study showed that there was no interference in those (immune) responses, because we know both those vaccines are protected against meningococcal disease, and that it was safe and well tolerated,' said Professor Peter Richmond, head of the Vaccine Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre and head of paediatrics at UWA's medical school. 'Really, this is a major advance in prevention of meningococcal disease globally.' Although rare, the nasty disease can quickly become life-threatening if it gets into the bloodstream or membranes lining the spinal cord and brain. Children who survive are often left with long-term health complications like brain injuries, scarring or amputated limbs. Chelsea Perrin's daughter Tahlea, 7, is one of those survivors, contracting meningococcal W in 2018 at just six months. Chelsea Perrin and daughter Tahlea Dalgety. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian 'The night she got sick . . . I woke up probably about three o'clock in the morning, and she was just really, really unwell,' Ms Perrin said. 'I didn't know what was wrong with her, but I knew that she just needed to get straight to the hospital. There was something seriously wrong.' Living in Geraldton at the time, Ms Perrin drove her infant daughter straight to hospital. Upon arrival, she noticed Tahlea had a few spots on her head — the tell-tale rash of advancing meningococcal. 'She was going in and out of consciousness. She wasn't breathing very well, and then they rushed her straight through,' she said. Doctors had to put Tahlea into an induced coma, and they were fearful enough for her life that they told Ms Perrin to say her goodbyes. 'Before they put her under they they told me, give her a kiss, you might not see her alive again, so kiss her now, say what you need to say to her,' she said. 'That was really hard. And then we were flown from Geraldton to Perth and straight to ICU.' After three weeks in intensive care and 162 days — more than five months — on a general ward, her little battler made it through. 'It was horrific. A lot of it's a blur . . . it was just so terrifying,' Ms Perrin said. The sinister disease left Tahlea with scarring to 80 per cent of her body, amputated fingers and toes, epilepsy and a brain injury that renders her unable to talk, walk or swallow on her own. 'Almost every system of her body has had some sort of damage,' Ms Perrin said. 'It's scary . . . this disease is not a game, and it doesn't discriminate.' She said a five-strain combined vaccine on the national schedule would be a game-changer for families. 'The more people are vaccinated, the less people that have outcomes like this,' Ms Perrin said. The MenABCWY's recent approval by the United States' Food and Drug Administration means the green light for use in Australia could be closer than we think. 'We would normally expect once it's been licensed in one country, it starts to become available in other countries within a couple of years,' Professor Richmond said. 'We're just waiting to hear when that will be.' Despite a difficult start to life, seven-year-old Tahlea is living life to its fullest. A competitive dancer, she's the reigning champion in her division alongside sister, Ava. 'She's got this special charisma about her, that just makes everyone fall in love with her personality,' Ms Perrin said. She said if her 'extremely cheeky, very bright and bubbly' daughter is still smiling, they can get through anything.
