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In England, the world's first routine vaccine against gonorrhea will begin in August, health officials announced. The decision comes amid a record rise in cases of the bacterial infection, as well as growing concerns about antibiotic resistance
The vaccine declared "a turning point for sexual health” comes amid a record number of recorded cases of many bacterial infections. Vaccine against gonorrhea will be implemented in England as part of the first program of its kind in the world, officials announced.
Systemic vaccination will aim to tackle rising levels of sexually transmitted infections. Gonorrhea cases in England are set to exceed 85.000 in 2023, the highest since records began in 1918, with warnings that some strains are resistant to antibiotics.
The vaccine, known as 4CMenB, is already used against a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in a routine children's program and is given to babies aged eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year.
"The launch of the world's first routine gonorrhea vaccination is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rise in rates of bacterial resistance to antibiotics," said Dr Amanda Doyle, director of primary care and services at NHS England.
Eligible patients will be identified and contacted in the coming weeks, and vaccinations will be offered through local sexual health services from 1 August.
At the examination, patients will be offered vaccines against gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B.
The most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK
Doyle added: "Our service teams across the country are now hard at work planning action to ensure we can start vaccination immediately."
Gonorrhea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK.
Symptoms may include green or yellow discharge, pain when urinating, and pain and discomfort in the rectum. In women, symptoms may include lower abdominal pain or bleeding between periods. However, many people have no symptoms.
The vaccine contains proteins from neisseria meningitidis – the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease – which is genetically closely related to neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea.
Studies by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization suggest that the 4CMenB vaccine provides 32,7 percent to 42 percent effectiveness against gonorrhea, and that it reduces the risk of infection, but does not yet completely eliminate it.
However, officials say vaccination would be beneficial, as previous gonorrhea infection is thought to offer little protection against future infections.
The program comes amid warnings that cases of gonorrhea resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone - which is usually the first line of treatment - are becoming more common in England.
This means that the bacteria responsible for sexually transmitted diseases have developed the ability to survive and reproduce even when exposed to antibiotics.
Source: RTS
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