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The Department of Health in Northern Ireland is currently deliberating on the possibility of administering vaccines to combat gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This comes after England announced its plans to become the first country in the world to implement such vaccinations in an effort to tackle the rising rates of gonorrhoea infections. While the vaccine’s effectiveness stands at 30-40%, NHS England is optimistic that it will help curb the escalating numbers of cases.
In Northern Ireland, gonorrhoea has become the most frequently diagnosed STI in sexual health clinics, as reported by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The number of cases surged from 652 to 1,606 between 2021 and 2022, marking the highest figure ever recorded by the PHA. Despite a decrease in cases in 2020 due to changes in behavior and healthcare prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a notable increase again in 2023 with 1,561 new cases reported, constituting nearly a third (28%) of all new STI diagnoses in the region.
The majority of gonorrhoea cases in Northern Ireland are among males, with 67% of them being gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men. The vaccine rollout in England will prioritize individuals with a history of multiple sexual partners or previous STIs, rather than being available to the general population. Gonorrhoea may not always manifest noticeable symptoms, but common signs include pain, abnormal discharge, genital inflammation, and potential infertility. The infection, easily transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, has serious implications, such as the risk of blindness for newborns when transmitted from an infected pregnant woman.
It is crucial to acknowledge that gonorrhoea does not discriminate based on gender, and approximately one in 10 infected men and nearly half of infected women may be asymptomatic. Furthermore, the infection can be transmitted from a mother to her newborn, potentially resulting in permanent blindness without proper treatment. Contrary to popular belief, gonorrhoea is not spread through non-sexual contact like hugging or contact with everyday items such as toilet seats, towels, cups, or plates. It is also important to note that past successful treatment does not guarantee immunity from future infections
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