A new gonorrhoea vaccination programme is set to commence across Northern Ireland in August.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging eligible individuals to make appointments for vaccination to help protect themselves and their sexual partners from the infection.

From August onwards, the vaccine will be offered to eligible people, specifically gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Two doses are advised for optimal protection.

This initiative follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the rollout of the vaccination programme in response to a surge in gonorrhoea diagnoses. Rachel Spiers, Immunisation and Vaccination Programme Manager at the PHA, stated: "In recent years we have seen an increase in gonorrhoea cases. It is now the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in Northern Ireland, with some infections being particularly resistant to treatment. So by offering the vaccine to those most at risk it will not only help to protect them against the disease but will also help to reduce the spread."

Ms Spiers added that the vaccine provides approximately 30 to 40% protection against gonorrhoea. While this is positive, she emphasised the continued importance of using condoms for protection against gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted infections like syphilis. The vaccine itself is a meningococcal group B vaccine, which has been part of the UK routine immunisation programme for some time, with recent research indicating it may also offer some protection against gonorrhoea.

"The PHA would strongly encourage eligible people to take up the offer and get both doses to reduce the risk to themselves and others," urged Ms Spiers.

The vaccine will be available through GUM (Genitourinary Medicine) clinics within local Health and Social Care Trusts.