A new vaccine programme is set to launch in Scotland in response to an increase in gonorrhoea cases following the pandemic. Gonorrhoea is the nation's second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), with 5,999 cases reported in 2023 - a 59% surge compared to pre-COVID times.

The £280,000 programme, funded by the Scottish government, aims to tackle rising health disparities and antibiotic resistance. Eligible individuals include high-risk groups like gay and bisexual men, sex workers of all genders, and those identified by sexual health professionals as being at similar risk levels.

Gonorrhoea can lead to severe pain, discomfort, and in rare instances, life-threatening sepsis. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto emphasized the urgency of this initiative, highlighting the challenges in treating the infection with antibiotics and the potential benefits of preventing its spread through vaccination.

The vaccination will be administered by the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme under the leadership of Public Health Scotland. The funding will cover both initial and follow-up doses of the 4CMenB vaccine, which is expected to be 30-40% effective. The vaccine will be available in clinics alongside other vaccinations like HPV, hepatitis, and the routine mpox vaccination programme.

Dr. Sam Ghebrehewet, head of the vaccination and immunisation division at PHS, expressed optimism about the programme's ability to control and prevent the spread of gonorrhoea. Plans are underway for the targeted vaccination rollout to high-risk individuals starting in August 2025.