'World-first' gonorrhoea vaccine rolled out as UK infections hit a record high

The NHS will start rolling out a "world-first" vaccination programme against gonorrhoea in England today.

Earlier this year, NHS England announced that eligible patients would start to be offered the vaccine from early August amid a record number of gonorrhoea cases and increasingly antibiotic-resistant strains. Now, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said sexual health clinics will be able to offer a free vaccine against the sexually transmitted infection from today.

Ashley Dalton, minister for public health and prevention, said in a statement that the rollout "represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels". She added: "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." Gonorrhoea diagnoses reached 85,000 in 2023 - the highest since records began in 1918 and three times more than in 2012. Jabs will be offered for free to those at highest risk from the bacteria, including gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners and a bacterial STI in the previous 12 months.

The vaccine is based on an existing vaccine, 4CMenB, used to protect against meningococcal B disease. However, it is between 32.7% to 42% effective against gonorrhoea, which means it will not completely eliminate the potential to get the disease.

The DHSC referenced analysis led by Imperial College London which said the vaccination could prevent up to 100,000 cases of gonorrhoea and save the NHS more than £7.9m over the next decade. Read more from Sky News:Two Strictly Come Dancing stars accused of taking cocaineChild vaccination rates lowest in more than a decade - why?Fresh arrest after aircraft vandalised at RAF base Dr Sema Mandal, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, added that the vaccine "will give much needed protection to those that 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," she added. "Sexually transmitted infections aren't just an inconvenience - they can have a major impact on your health and your sexual partners, so if offered I strongly urge you to get these jabs, you'll be protecting yourself as well as others.

"Don't put it off and regret it later." At the appointment for the gonorrhoea vaccine, patients will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B..