A gonorrhoea vaccine rollout has begun in Scotland following a UK-wide rise in cases.
The illness, which is the second most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Scotland, is potentially painful and in rare cases can be life-threatening.
The vaccine programme, which was introduced in England last month, will be offered to gay and bisexual men, trans women and anyone who's had a bacterial STI in the past two years.
Speaking ahead of the rollout, Public Health Minister Jenny Minto said the campaign was "urgent and timely since the number of diagnoses has been high and the disease is becoming increasingly difficult to treat with antibiotics".
Doctors and charities called for vaccinations earlier this year after the UK's joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) recommended a targeted rollout in November 2023.
The Scottish government is funding the vaccination programme.
Minto said: "The science tells us that this vaccine will potentially protect thousands of people and prevent the spread of infection.
"Anything which stops people from contracting gonorrhoea in the first place can have huge benefits, including ensuring our health system remains resilient by reducing the amount of treatment needed."
Source: BBC News, 01 September 2025
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