UK to Test First-Ever Gonorrhoea Vaccine
A breakthrough gonorrhoea vaccine is heading to England and Wales 💉💊
You read that right! England and Wales will soon be the first two countries in the world to launch a program offering a vaccine for gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that's spreading like wildfire and causing serious concern due to increasing antibiotic resistance.
The momentum behind this move is substantial, with over 85,000 diagnoses of gonorrhoea in England in 2023 alone. This is a 234% increase compared to 2012, when only 25,525 cases were reported. Talk about a monster on the rise!
Second most common STI in the UK, gonorrhoea is caused by the notorious bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This pesky little guy loves to make itself at home in genital areas, spread via unprotected sex. Roughly 10% of men and nearly half of women don't even show symptoms, making hunting this STI down like whack-a-mole.
When folks do display signs, symptoms often include yellow- or green-colored discharge, painful urination, and lower abdomen pain. Let's not forget the possibility of a full-body infection that can lead to sepsis in rare cases. Yikes!
Untreated gonorrhoea carries some hefty consequences, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and epididymitis in men. Scary stuff indeed!
But how do we tackle the beast? Through antibiotics, of course, although antibiotic resistance is making this a much harder task.
So, what's the solution? A vaccine program! Now, you might be thinking "How can we vaccinate against a sexually transmitted infection?" Well, the vaccine in question is actually an existing childhood vaccine called 4CMenB, also sold under the brand name Bexsero. Clever, right?
Why does this vaccine thwart gonorrhoea? That's due to its uncanny similarity with the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea and meningococcal disease. Their genome is between 80-90% similar - talk about siblings!
The 4CMenB vaccine contains antigens that neutralize Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, two of which also target N gonorrhoeae. In other words, the vaccine utilized for meningococcal disease can also protect people from gonorrhoea - and it's opened up a world of possibility. Studies have shown the 4CMenB vaccine can provide a moderate level of protection against gonorrhoea - between 32% and 42% of the time.
Don't get too excited; this vaccine won't provide an absolute protection against gonorrhoea. But it will certainly lower the risk of contracting gonorrhoea and its complications, and help prevent transmission of the infection to others.
Rolling out the vaccine program will do wonders in terms of overall gonorrhoea cases, particularly given increasing antibiotic resistance. Keep in mind that an earlier gonorrhoea infection won't defend you from future infections, which is where this vaccine comes in handy, even if it's only moderately effective.
The plan is to offer the vaccine primarily to high-risk groups, including gay and bisexual men who have multiple partners or STIs. The rollout will begin in early August 2025 through local NHS services, with vaccines offered for other STIs, such as mpox, hepatitis A and B, and human papillomavirus at the same time. Fingers crossed for a high uptake rate!
According to Bharat Pankhania, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Exeter, the 4CMenB vaccine could prevent up to 100,000 gonorrhoea cases and save the NHS over £7.9 million over the next decade. Sounds like a win-win situation to us!
Safeguard your sexual health and help stop the spread of gonorrhoea by educating yourself and your partners. Practice safe sex, get checked regularly, and make informed decisions. It's all about sticking together to slay the gonorrhoea monster! 💪💕🔬💉💊
- The launch of a gonorrhoea vaccine program in England and Wales could potentially prevent up to 100,000 cases of the STI over the next decade, according to a senior clinical lecturer.
- The 4CMenB vaccine, also known as Bexsero, which is primarily used for meningococcal disease, has shown moderate effectiveness (32%-42%) in providing protection against gonorrhoea.
- Engaging in health and wellness activities, such as regular check-ups, safe sex practices, and mental health awareness, will complement the vaccine's role in lowering the risk of contracting and transmitting gonorrhoea.
- Broadening the vaccine's reach to include nutrition education and CBD products could further support the mental and physical health of those at risk, ultimately contributing to a broader approach to counteracting chronic diseases and sexual health concerns.
