Words by Isabel O’Brien
The NHS has begun rolling out a world-first gonorrhoea vaccination programme in England, offering the vaccine free of charge to individuals at the highest risk of infection.
Starting today (4 August 2025), sexual health clinics across the country are administering the 4CMenB vaccine to gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners and previous bacterial STI diagnosis within the past year. This programme aligns with the government’s ‘Plan for Change’, which promotes prevention to reduce pressure on healthcare services.
Health authorities anticipate the initiative could prevent up to 100,000 cases of gonorrhoea over the next decade, potentially saving the NHS more than £7.9 million. This development responds to sharply rising gonorrhoea diagnoses in England, which reached a record 85,000 cases in 2023. This is three times the number recorded in 2012. In addition, the vaccine rollout is particularly timely against the backdrop of growing antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea strains, complicating treatment options.
Produced by pharmaceutical company GSK, the vaccine was originally developed to protect against meningococcal group B disease – the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants and young children – the vaccine has been repurposed for targeted use in high-risk populations for gonorrhoea due to the genetic similarities between the bacteria responsible for both diseases.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, NHS, highlighted the clinical importance of the vaccine: “This vaccine is already used to protect against Men B and is proven to be effective against gonorrhoea, preventing the spread of infection and reducing the rising rates of antibiotic-resistant strains. That is why it is so important that everyone eligible takes up the offer through sexual health services alongside existing jabs for mpox, Hep A & B, and HPV, helping ensure we keep each other safe.”
Dr Sema Mandal, Consultant Epidemiologist, UK Health Security Agency, noted the public health significance: “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 that need it most – making the UK a world leader in the fight against gonorrhoea.”
While the roll out begins today, it is expected that the vaccine is will be available in sexual health clinics in every region in England by 4 September 2025. Alongside the gonorrhoea vaccine, clinics will also offer eligible patients vaccines for mpox, hepatitis A and B, and HPV, providing access to protection against all five diseases at once.
