ENGLAND is set to become the first country in the world to roll out a national vaccination programme against gonorrhoea, aiming to curb record-high infection rates and growing antibiotic resistance.
The groundbreaking programme, starting this August, will primarily target men who have sex with men with a history of multiple sexual partners or previous sexually transmitted infections. Although the vaccine was originally designed to protect against meningitis B, it has been found to reduce gonorrhoea infections by 30–40%, due to the close genetic similarity between the two bacteria. Participants will be offered the vaccine at sexual health clinics, alongside vaccines for human papillomavirus, hepatitis, and mpox, in a tailored strategy designed to reach those most at risk.
In 2023, England recorded more than 85,000 gonorrhoea cases, the highest number since records began in 1918. Interim projections by Imperial College London suggest that if uptake is high, the vaccine could prevent 100,000 infections and save the NHS nearly 8 million GBP over the next decade. While the vaccine is not fully protective, it could significantly reduce transmission, particularly among younger adults and communities disproportionately affected, including people aged 16–25 years, men who have sex with men, and individuals of Black and Caribbean heritage. The vaccine’s use is expected to ease pressure on already stretched sexual health services, where campaigners say demand is surging. Adverse effects are minimal, and the overall value is considered high when administered to those at greatest risk.
Though this vaccine alone will not eliminate gonorrhoea, it marks an important tool in addressing a disease that is rapidly developing resistance to existing treatments. This landmark decision is being watched closely by other UK nations, with Scotland preparing similar plans, and Wales and Northern Ireland currently reviewing their strategies.
Reference
NHS England. NHS and local government to roll out world-first vaccine programme to prevent gonorrhoea. 2025. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/05/nhs-and-local-government-to-roll-out-world-first-vaccine-programme-to-prevent-gonorrhoea/. Last accessed: 22 May 2025.
