UK Launches First Gonorrhoea Vaccine After 85K Cases

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Gonorrhoea cases in England hit 85,000 in 2023 - the highest since records began in 1918 and triple the numbers from 2012.

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The vaccine isn't new - it's the meningitis B vaccine (4CMenB/Bexsero) that scientists found also works against gonorrhoea because the bacteria are genetically similar.

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Studies show the vaccine offers 30-42% protection against gonorrhoea - not perfect but enough to prevent 100,000 cases over a decade and save the NHS £7.9 million.

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Antibiotic-resistant "super gonorrhoea" is a growing threat - UKHSA reported 17 resistant cases and 9 extensively drug-resistant cases in just 15 months.

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The programme targets high-risk groups: primarily gay and bisexual men with multiple partners, sex workers, and people with histories of STIs.

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When patients come for their gonorrhoea jab, they'll also be offered vaccines for mpox, Hepatitis A and B, and HPV - maximizing protection in one visit.

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"This could cut 40% of new gonorrhoea cases," says Richard Angell from Terrence Higgins Trust. But why hasn't the EU announced similar plans?

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European health authorities might be waiting for vaccines with higher effectiveness or conducting their own cost-benefit analyses before committing.

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Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop dedicated gonorrhoea vaccines that could offer better protection - with GSK's candidate already fast-tracked by the US FDA.

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