England is set to become the first country to introduce a vaccination programme against gonorrhoea. Hooray! The vaccine rollout, set to begin in August, will primarily target gay and bisexual men with multiple sexual partners or a history of STIs as gonorrhoea cases have surged to over 85,000 in 2023 - a record high since records began in 1918.
Gonorrhoea, which is often symptomless, can result in severe health complications, including pain, unusual discharge, and infertility. The vaccine being deployed is based on the meningitis B vaccine, known as 4CMenB, which has shown an estimated effectiveness of 30-40% against gonorrhoea. While this may seem limited, health experts believe its implementation could have a profound impact on controlling infection rates. Research projections by Imperial College London suggest that if uptake is high, the vaccine could prevent up to 100,000 infections and save the NHS close to £8 million over the coming decade.
Max, a sexual health campaigner diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year, expressed strong support for the initiative, stating he would '100%' get the vaccine. Prof. Matt Phillips from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV described the announcement as a 'landmark moment' for sexual health in England.
The impetus for this vaccination programme is also a proactive measure against increasingly antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhoea. The bacterium responsible has a long history of evolving resistance to treatments, rendering some cases incredibly challenging to manage. With this backdrop, Dr Amanda Doyle from NHS England noted the vaccine's critical role in protecting individuals and curbing the spread of infection, particularly in an environment where gonorrhoea risk is heightened. The 4CMenB vaccine will not completely eliminate the risk of contracting gonorrhoea, however.
Although the initial rollout is tailored for high-risk groups, like gay men, clinicians will retain discretion to offer the vaccine to other patients considered at risk. Additionally, individuals may receive other vaccinations, such as those for mpox, HPV, and hepatitis, alongside the gonorrhoea jab. Public Health Scotland is also reportedly working on launching a similar programme to improve health outcomes for at-risk populations in Scotland, while responses from health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland regarding possible initiatives have yet to be confirmed.
Source: Noah Wire Services