England to Launch World’s First Gonorrhoea Vaccination Programme

England is set to become the first country in the world to introduce a routine vaccination programme aimed at protecting people from gonorrhoea, a common and increasingly drug-resistant sexually transmitted infection (STI).

The National Health Service (NHS) will begin offering the vaccine in August 2025, starting with groups most at risk, particularly gay and bisexual men. This move comes as part of efforts to curb the rising number of gonorrhoea cases, which reached over 85,000 in England alone in 2023.

The vaccine being used was originally developed to protect against meningitis B and has shown effectiveness in preventing around one-third of gonorrhoea cases, according to research. Experts believe the programme could prevent over 100,000 infections and save the NHS nearly £8 million over the next ten years.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) approved the rollout following studies by Imperial College London. Health officials say this is a major step in tackling the growing challenge of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea strains.

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, described the programme as a “huge step forward” in protecting public health and reducing the spread of STIs.

The vaccine will be available at local sexual health clinics, and eligibility will be based on factors such as recent STI diagnoses and high-risk sexual behaviour.

This groundbreaking initiative positions the UK as a global leader in sexual health prevention and highlights the growing importance of vaccines in fighting infectious diseases beyond traditional childhood illnesses.