Recent Updates & News

• 4th August: Press release: NHS begins rollout of world-first gonorrhoea vaccine programme. DID YOU KNOW? Gonorrhoea is now the second most common bacterial STI in the UK. In 2023, more than 85,000 diagnoses were recorded in England — the highest number since records began in 1918. Research led by Imperial College London suggests the vaccination programme could prevent more than 100,000 cases over 10 years and save the NHS more than £7.9 million.

• 9th July 2025: The vaccine has been approved at the right time given the headline of this: Global data suggest doxyPEP may have limited effectiveness against gonorrhea. High and rising levels of tetracycline resistance globally will likely limit the ability of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) to prevent gonorrhea infections.

• 1st July 2025: Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme for Gonorrhoea: Documents relating to the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme against Gonorrhoea for gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) updated to add the PGD template.

• 25th June 2025: Vaccine update has landed with an Mpox and MenB special - LOADS of useful resources. If you are working in sexual health have a good browse.

• 20th June 2025: Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme for Gonorrhoea updated - Added ‘Introduction of new routine mpox and 4CMenB for gonorrhoea vaccination programmes letter’.

• 13th June: A letter has arrived! Introduction of new routine mpox and 4CMenB for gonorrhoea vaccination programmes letter. This letter provides the information required to implement the expanded pre-exposure mpox and new 4CMenB for gonorrhoea vaccination programmes primarily targeting GBMSM in sexual health services. There will be a rolling start from 1 August 2025, with all providers offering vaccinations by 1 September 2025.

• 2nd June 2025: An important document that came in today is the 'Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination against gonorrhoea guide'. and accompanying leaflet and poster.

• 25th March 2025: Doctors and charities call for gonorrhoea vaccine roll-out. When will we see men b vaccines being used for gonorrhoea? The evidence is there....

• NOV 2023 Meningitis B vaccine for gonorrhea. This is super important news given the worrying increase in antibiotic resistance. This article, published on the 19th August 2024, explains how Gonorrhea may become untreatable.

Results:

Eight papers met our eligibility criteria. Receipt of ≥1 dose of MenB-4C vaccine was 23%–47% effective against gonorrhoea. Two doses of MenB-4C vaccine were 33–40% effective against gonorrhea and one dose of MenB-4C vaccine was 26% effective. MenB-4C vaccine effectiveness against gonorrhoea/chlamydia co-infection was mixed with two studies reporting effectiveness estimates of 32% and 44%, and two other studies showing no protective effect. MenB-4C vaccine effectiveness against gonorrhoea was comparable in people living with HIV (44%) and people not living with HIV (23%–47%). Pooled MenB-4C vaccine effectiveness (≥1 dose) against gonorrhea was 32.4%. One study concluded that MenB-4C vaccine effectiveness against gonorrhoea may wane approximately 36 months post-vaccination.

Conclusion:

MenB-4C vaccine is moderately effective against gonorrhoea in various populations. Prospective clinical trials that assess the efficacy of MenB-4C against gonorrhoea, gonorrhea/chlamydia co-infection, and duration of protection are warranted to strengthen this evidence.

Fun Tip: How to remember the spelling of Gonorrhoea

In the UK it has 'hoea' at the end, in America (as described above) it's 'hea' or 'oea' - all correct but seeing as I am in the UK here's the UK spelling

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Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation

Did you know....

• Gonorrhoea is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae that spreads through having sex with someone who has the infection. It is passed on through vaginal, oral, and anal sex, and anyone can catch it.

• The symptoms experienced differ by the site of the body that gets infected, and typical symptoms include yellow discharge from the penis or vagina and pain or burning when urinating. Gonorrhoea can be asymptomatic.

• Gonorrhoea is treated with a single-dose antibiotic injection.

• Gonorrhoea infection doesn’t offer immunity, and so the risk of catching gonorrhoea again does not decrease.

• Cases of gonorrhoea are increasing year on year. In England, cases rose from 49,393 in 2021, to 85,370 in 2023, marking a record high since records began in 1918.

• The diagnosis of STI’s continues to be greatest in younger people, and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoea has increased rapidly in recent years and has reduced the options for treatment.