Tourists on the Increase: Vaccinated England Allows Travel, Austria Imposes Travel Restrictions
Increase in Gonorrhoea Cases Prompts UK Vaccination Programme
Over 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea were reported in the United Kingdom in 2023, marking a significant rise since 2012. Similar trends have been observed in Switzerland and Austria, where cases have tripled since 2015 and 2023 respectively. The emergence of resistant strains of the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae to common antibiotics is a growing concern.
In response, the UK is initiating the first national vaccination campaign against gonorrhoea, targeting high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, those with multiple sexual partners, and individuals diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases. The vaccine used is 4CMenB, originally developed to protect infants from meningococcal infections.
Studies by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation estimate that the vaccine offers around 30 to 40 percent protection against gonorrhoea. While this is not full protection, it signifies a valuable step in combating resistant bacterial strains.
However, infectious disease specialist Marton Szell has expressed skepticism about potential vaccination ambitions in Austria. He points out that the protective effect is low and not yet sufficiently proven, and that the meningococcal vaccine is not yet licensed for use against gonorrhoea.
As a result, according to Szell, the vaccine should only be administered in exceptional cases and to individuals at high risk, after careful consultation. At present, there is no recommendation for this vaccine in Austria.
It's worth noting that condoms provide far superior protection against gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted diseases compared to vaccination.
Gonorrhoea, a common sexually transmitted disease worldwide, is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and transmitted through mucous membrane contact during unprotected oral, vaginal, and anal sex, or during childbirth from mother to child. Symptoms may include discharge, burning when urinating, or no symptoms at all. If left untreated, it can result in infertility. Conventional treatment is antibiotics, but resistant strains pose a significant challenge.
(Note: Due to Brexit, the MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – is responsible for the approval of medicinal products in the United Kingdom.)
(Note: The UK is set to launch a national vaccination programme using the 4CMenB vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea among high-risk groups, scheduled to begin in August 2025. This makes the UK the first country to initiate such a campaign [2][3][5]. At present, there are no reports of similar measures being considered or planned in Austria.)
- The rise in gonorrhoea cases has prompted discussions about chronic diseases and medical-conditions related to sexual health, particularly in light of resistant strains of the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- As part of a proactive approach to health-and-wellness, the UK has decided to launch a national vaccination programme using the 4CMenB vaccine to combat gonorrhoea among high-risk groups, marking a significant step in the fight against sexual health issues.
- While the vaccine offers partial protection, it's crucial to remember that condoms provide far superior protection against gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted diseases, emphasizing the importance of safe sexual practices for overall health.
