UK Leads the Way: First Nationwide Gonorrhea Vaccination Program Begins

By: Alejandra Legarda | Special for Al Dia News

In a groundbreaking move for global public health, England will become the first country to launch a nationwide systematic vaccination program against gonorrhea. Starting in August 2025, the National Health Service (NHS) will offer the vaccine to individuals at higher risk of infection, particularly those with a history of multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to an announcement by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care.

The decision comes amid a steady rise in gonorrhea cases across Europe, fueled in part by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. In England alone, cases rose by 24% between 2022 and 2024, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The targeted vaccination strategy aims to curb this trend and protect vulnerable populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, and individuals with recent STI diagnoses.

The vaccine being used is 4CMenB (Bexsero), originally developed to prevent meningitis B. However, several studies have shown it also offers cross-protection against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. A 2022 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found the vaccine could reduce the risk of gonorrhea infection by up to 33% in vaccinated individuals, even though it was not designed for that purpose (The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2022).

The pilot phase of the program will begin in NHS sexual health clinics in London, Manchester, and Brighton, with plans to expand nationally if results show population-level effectiveness. UK health authorities have emphasized that vaccination is not a substitute for condoms or regular STI testing, but rather an additional preventive tool in high-risk settings.

Global health experts are hailing the initiative as a milestone in the fight against sexually transmitted infections. If successful, England’s model could inspire similar strategies in other countries facing the growing challenge of drug-resistant gonorrhea.

Sources:

• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 2025

• Department of Health and Social Care, United Kingdom

• The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2022

• NHS England, official press release, May 2025