Public health chiefs scramble to roll out jab to protect against one of Britain’s most common STI as drug-resistant cases surge
Health chiefs have announced a new vaccination which protects against one of the UK’s most common STIs, in a bid to tackle a worrying rise in drug-resistant cases.
Gonorrhoea can usually be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated it can lead to infertility and an increased risk of HIV transmission.
Latest data revealed there were over 85,000 cases reported in England in 2023—the highest number since records since records began in 1918.
The first line treatment is an antibiotic called ceftriaxone, but 15 ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases were detected in England between June 2022 and May 2024.
And this worryingly included five that were also found to be resistant to second line treatments and other antibiotic options.
In response, the free jab will be offered—in England only—to those most at risk, including gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners, or a bacterial STI.
Gonorrhoea also disproportionately affects those in deprived areas and people of black Caribbean ethnicity.
The experts predict the vaccine, which will be available at NHS sexual health clinics, will prevent up to 100,000 cases.
The jab roll out comes as cases of the common STI reached an all time record high in England
The vaccine, known as 4CMenB, is already used to protect against 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.
Patients getting the gonorrhoea vaccine will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B at their appointment.
The 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.’
Symptoms of gonorrhoea in women include a yellow or greenish discharge from their vagina, burning while peeing, pain in your lower abdomen, and in rare cases bleeding between periods.
Meanwhile symptoms in men include burning and pain when they pee, fluid or discharge coming out of the penis and sore testicles.
The jab being rolled out has also been used to protect against the meningococcal B disease
However, the STI can affect other parts of the body when they come in contact with semen or vaginal fluid. In these cases, symptoms may include: a sore throat; pain, itching and discharge from your bottom; eye redness, pain and discharge.
It comes a month after health chiefs urged the 418,000 under-25s who left school without receiving a life-saving cancer vaccine to come forward for the jab.
This was the HPV vaccine, which is routinely offered to children in year 8 of secondary school.
The jab protects against human papillomavirus—a common infection which is linked to several cancers.
Around 80 per cent of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point, usually through sexual contact.
Children are targeted for vaccination before they have been exposed—with the aim of providing protection through into adulthood.
In most cases the virus is harmless, but in some cases it can trigger changes in DNA that lead to cervical cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus.
When someone performs oral sex on a partner with HPV, the virus can infect the mouth and throat.
The vaccine, which is proven in studies to be highly effective, prevents this from happening.
In July, GP practices across England prepared to invite patients aged between 16 and 25 to get vaccinated via letters, emails, texts and the NHS app.
Experts had previously warned that low uptake of the HPV vaccine is putting children at risk of developing cancer later in life.
They believe this may be partly due to a misconception that the jab is only relevant to sexually transmitted infections—and therefore not necessary for children.
