UK introduces meningitis vaccine to fight gonorrhea

The United Kingdom is introducing a gonorrhea vaccine, becoming the first country to do so, but it will not be available in the European Union. The vaccine is expected to help curb rising infection rates. The vaccine, 4CMenB (Bexsero), was originally designed to prevent meningitis. It will be offered to high-risk individuals in England through the National Health Service. Studies show it is between 32.7% and 42% effective against gonorrhea. Gonorrhea cases in England reached a record high in 2023. The EU is not currently considering authorizing the vaccine for gonorrhea prevention, leaving other European countries without access for now.