People at highest risk of infection with gonorrhoea will now be better protected from the disease, as the NHS and local authorities begin the roll-out of a world-first vaccination programme in England.
Sexual health clinics will now offer a free vaccine to patients at highest risk of the sexually transmitted infection (STI), including gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners and a bacterial STI in the previous 12 months.
The 4CMenB vaccine will help shield those most at risk of gonorrhoea - potentially averting up to 100,000 cases of the disease, while easing pressure on vital NHS services.
It will play a significant role in the government’s shift from sickness to prevention as it makes the NHS fit for the future as part of its Plan for Change.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: "Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels. This government’s world-first vaccination programme will help turn the tide on infections, as well as tackling head on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination, to protect not only yourselves but also your sexual partners."
The ground-breaking vaccination programme comes at a critical time, with diagnoses of gonorrhoea reaching their highest levels since records began. In 2023, a record 85,000 cases of the disease were reported in England - 3 times higher than in 2012.
This vaccine will protect thousands of people and save the NHS more than £7.9 million over the next decade. It will also help combat increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease.
The roll-out is part of this government’s commitment to keep people healthier through an array of prevention and community-based health initiatives.
This includes the Department of Health and Social Care’s national HIV Prevention England programme, funded at £1.5 million a year and delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust, which has worked with local activation partners to deliver National HIV Testing Week and the summer campaign for the past 4 years.
More widely, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government is aiming to reduce demand for hospital services by increasing uptake of other vaccines, including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which protects infants and older adults against this potentially deadly disease.
Consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Sema Mandal, said: "This roll-out is hugely welcome as we’re currently seeing very concerning numbers of gonorrhoea, including even more worryingly antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. The vaccine will give much-needed protection to those who need it most - making the UK a world leader in the fight against gonorrhoea. It’s excellent to see that, at the same time, other important vaccines will continue to be offered in sexual health services to those eligible, protecting against mpox, hepatitis A and B, and human papillomavirus (HPV)."
