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London, May 22, 2025 — Health authorities in England have announced the launch of a groundbreaking vaccination programme targeting gonorrhoea, making it the first country in the world to introduce a routine vaccine against the sexually transmitted infection (STI). The initiative comes in response to a dramatic surge in gonorrhoea cases, which reached over 85,000 in 2023—the highest figure since records began in 1918.
The National Health Service (NHS) will roll out the programme using the 4CMenB vaccine, originally developed to protect children against meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. The vaccine is already part of the standard childhood immunisation schedule, administered to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks, and one year.
Under the new scheme, the vaccine will be offered to those deemed most at risk, particularly gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial STI diagnosis. During vaccination appointments, patients will also be offered protection against mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B.
Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, hailed the initiative as a “game changer,” predicting it could cut new gonorrhoea cases by up to 40 percent. NHS chief Amanda Doyle described the programme as a “huge step forward for sexual health,” noting its potential to curb the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhoea.
“This vaccination programme is a hugely welcome intervention at a time when we’re seeing very concerning levels of gonorrhoea, including antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea,” said NHS consultant epidemiologist Sema Mandal.
The resurgence of gonorrhoea, along with other STIs such as syphilis—which saw more than 9,500 cases in 2023, the highest since 1948—has alarmed public health officials. Once considered largely eradicated thanks to modern medicine, these Victorian-era diseases are making a comeback, prompting urgent action from health authorities.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on information reported by the Economic Times Health and statements from UK health authorities. For personal medical advice or more details about the vaccination programme, please consult a healthcare professional or visit official NHS resources.
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