England will be the first country in the world to vaccinate against gonorrhea. The shot will be included in the vaccination program to combat the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The Netherlands does not yet seem to be considering the introduction of such a vaccine.
With the introduction of the vaccine, England hopes to reduce the number of new cases of gonorrhea. In 2023, more than 85,000 English people had the sexually transmitted infection (STI), reports The Guardian. That was the largest number since the start of registration in 1918.
The vaccine is an existing shot used against meningococcus, a bacterium that can cause meningitis and sepsis (blood poisoning). Meningococcus is closely related to the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. The shot will be included in the regular vaccination program and given to babies at eight weeks, sixteen weeks, and one year old.
According to health authorities, the introduction constitutes a “milestone for sexual health.” The vaccine will not only help prevent spread, but should also reduce the number of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. The group that is eligible for it can get a shot from August 1.
The vaccine does not offer complete protection. According to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the shot is about 32.7 to 42 percent effective against gonorrhea. Nevertheless, the JCVI believes that vaccination is useful, because you are not well protected against the STI even after a previous infection. In that case, a vaccine would offer more protection.
The number of people with gonorrhea is also increasing in the Netherlands. The latest figures from the RIVM show that the diagnosis was made a total of 13,952 times in 2023. A year earlier there were 10,600 cases. A spokesperson for the RIVM tells NU.nl that he has “heard nothing from the Health Council about the introduction of the vaccine in the Dutch National Vaccination Program”.
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium. To prevent getting this STI, you can use condoms, for example.
Most men with gonorrhea experience symptoms such as pain when urinating or pus-like discharge from the penis. Women are less likely to experience symptoms.
Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. But if you wait too long, you run the risk of inflammation or reduced fertility.