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A first ever vaccination for gonorrhoea will be rolled out on the NHS at the start of August which researchers at Imperial College London believe could prevent 100,000 cases and save the health service over £7.9 million in the next 10 years.

NHS England said the vaccine, known as 4CMenB which is already used for meningococcal B disease, could protect up to 40 per cent of people from the disease and help tackle increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a sexually transmitted infection will be offered the vaccine to begin with.

Vaccines offered through local authority-commissioned sexual health services

Eligible patients will also be offered mpox, hepatitis A and B and human papillomavirus vaccinations at the same time they are vaccinated against gonorrhoea. Mpox vaccines have been available on the NHS since January for people at increased risk of getting infected.

NHSE said gonorrhoea vaccinations will be offered through local authority-commissioned sexual health services.

When asked if community pharmacies will be commissioned to roll out the vaccines, NHSE told Independent Community Pharmacist they will be delivered by “sexual health providers” through a range of channels, including integrated care boards, NHS trusts, sexual health services, HIV clinics and local authority sexual commissioner leads.

ICP has asked the Department of Health and Social Care if pharmacies will be commissioned to roll out gonorrhoea vaccines and if so, whether a payment structure has been established.

It is hoped the vaccines will reduce the number of diagnoses which reached a record high 85,000 in England in 2023, three times higher compared with 2012. Gonorrhoea is the second most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease in the country.

NPA chair: Pharmacies need to be funded properly to roll out vaccines

It does not always have symptoms but when they appear, they include a burning pain when urninating, fluid or discharge coming out of the genitals and pain in the testicles or lower abdomen.

The National Pharmacy Association chair Olivier Picard said the vaccine was “good news” but insisted pharmacies needed to be funded properly to roll them out.

“It's good news that England is pioneering a new routine vaccination programme for gonorrhoea as case rates have risen in recent years,” he said.

“Pharmacies are the front door to the NHS and have helped to deliver vaccinations for a range of conditions, such as flu and Covid. They are the most accessible part of the health service, particularly in deprived communities.

“With the right funding, they stand ready and able to help support this vaccination campaign if necessary.”

Echoeing Picard’s sentiments, the Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “Pharmacies can support the successful rollout of this vaccine programme.

“They have already played an integral role in administering and driving uptake of the flu, covid, RSV and MMR vaccines, especially in underserved communities. Indeed, pharmacies have administered a quarter of all Covid vaccines to date.

“Patients are already well accustomed to seeking sexual health advice and support from their local pharmacy. From October 2025, pharmacies will be able to supply emergency contraception.”