A world-leading vaccination programme will help tackle record levels of the STI
The Welsh Government has announced the roll-out of a routine vaccination programme to prevent new cases of gonorrhoea. The vaccine will be available to eligible groups – including gay and bisexual men at highest risk of infection and others assessed as high risk by a clinician. The roll-out of the programme is set for later this year.
Gonorrhoea rates are reaching historic highs in Wales, with 5,292 diagnoses of the STI in 2023 – representing a 27% increase compared to 2022 (4,174) and a staggering 231% increase on 2019 pre-pandemic levels of diagnosis (1,599). Across the UK there has also been an increase in cases of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea. In 2021, the Welsh Government introduced a national STI postal testing service which has resulted in an increase in the number of people accessing a gonorrhoea test, rising from 59,443 people in 2014 to 87,235 in 2023.
The decision comes after the Welsh Government accepted the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice for a roll-out of a gonorrhoea vaccine. Vaccination programmes are also to be delivered in Scotland and England.
The Welsh Government has also announced it will roll-out a vaccination programme for mpox, which will be available later this year. The programme will be a pre-exposure vaccination and will be offered to gay and bisexual men at highest risk of transmission and other individuals assessed by sexual health services as being at risk.
Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: ‘It is terrific news that the Welsh Government is set to roll-out a gonorrhoea vaccine in Wales and marks a significant moment in our shared efforts to combat rising rates of STIs.
‘The Welsh Government has led the way in the delivery of a national postal STI testing service and the record levels of testing is proof that easing access to testing works to increase uptake. We are delighted that the government are acting to tackle historic STI rates with the roll-out of this this world-leading vaccination programme. It is crucial that sexual health clinics across the country are supported by government to roll-out this vaccine and that work begins now.’
