‘World-first’ vaccine programme for gonorrhoea to be rolled-out by NHS

The NHS in England is to offer a vaccination programme against gonorrhoea – a world-first initiative – is set to be rolled out in the summer and delivered through local authority-commissioned sexual health services. 

Gonorrhoea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. Historically, it had been easy to treat with antibiotics but in recent years the pathogen has become a poster child for the worsening problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and tackling the spread of the diseases is becoming increasingly urgent.

The delivery of the vaccine programme comes after the government accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) for a vaccine roll out amid a record high 85,000 gonorrhoea diagnoses in England in 2023 – a three-fold increase in just a decade – driven in part by the pathogen’s AMR.

Initially eligible patients will include gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. People will receive an existing vaccine which was initially developed for meningococcal B disease – 4CMenB – could be protected from gonorrhoea by up to 40%. 

But even at this relatively low level of immune coverage provision it is expected that the vaccine will help tackle the increasing levels of AMR strains of the disease, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) research, a separate government agency which is supporting the NHS in England to rollout the vaccination campaign.

A study by Imperial College, London, suggested that high uptake of the 4CMenB vaccine could stop up to 100,000 cases of gonorrhoea in the next ten years, saving the NHS more than £7.9 million. Eligible people will be contacted through sexual health service providers and vaccinations will start from early August. Additionally these appointments will also offer vaccinations against mpox, hepatitis A and B and human papillomavirus at the same time.

“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.

“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.

“Vaccination is so important in helping to keep each other safe, so I would urge anyone eligible to take up the offer later this year when NHS staff start delivering these vaccines,” said NHS England’s National Director for Primary Care and Community Services Dr Amanda Doyle.

An STI, gonorrhoea is contracted through sex with another infected person but not everyone gets symptoms of gonorrhoea. If not treated, it can cause infections in the eyes, testicles or prostate. 

Nevertheless it remains the second most commonly diagnosed STI in England. Symptoms include pain when urinating, genital discharge and pain in your testicles or lower abdomen, with those experiencing symptoms starting to feel unwell around two weeks post-infection. A condom is the best way to protect you and your partners from gonorrhoea and other STIs.

“This vaccination programme is a hugely welcome intervention at a time when we’re seeing very concerning levels of gonorrhoea, including antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea. In 2023 we saw gonorrhoea diagnoses reach their highest since records began in 1918.

“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.

“STIs aren’t just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners, so please, if you are offered the vaccine do take the opportunity to protect yourself and your partners,” added Dr Sema Mandal, Consultant Epidemiologist and Deputy Director at the UK Health Security Agency.