Vaccines gay and bisexual men should know about

Sep 1

2 min read

Vaccines are boring on purpose. For gay and bisexual men they prevent some of the infections that travel easily in our sex lives and our crowded rooms: human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A and B, and mpox, among others. This is a list you can take to a clinician. It is not a full immunisation record and it is not medical advice for your particular body.

HPV

HPV causes genital and anal warts and a share of anal and throat cancers. The vaccine is useful for men, not only for girls. If you were not offered it as an adolescent, ask as an adult: many programmes now include MSM explicitly, sometimes up to a stated age, sometimes with a clinician's judgement beyond that.

It does not treat an infection you already have. It can still protect against types you have not met.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A spreads in outbreaks among men who have sex with men and through contaminated food. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and sex. Both are vaccine-preventable. If you do not know your status, a blood test can show whether you already have immunity, infection, or a gap.

Hepatitis C has no routine vaccine. Testing still matters if you have risks your clinician recognises (including some chemsex and sharing equipment). Ask; do not guess.

Mpox and the rest of the visit

Mpox (monkeypox) spread in MSM sexual networks in 2022 and after. Vaccination, when offered to men with relevant risk, reduces severity and infection. If there is an outbreak in your city, follow local sexual health guidance rather than waiting for a headline to find you.

Keep tetanus, flu, and COVID jabs in the ordinary adult pile. HIV treatment is not a vaccine; it still belongs in the same clinic conversation. See HIV today.

How to ask without a fight

Say you are a man who has sex with men and you want to know which of HPV, hepatitis A/B, and mpox you are eligible for. Bring a record if you have one. If the first GP shrugs, a sexual health clinic is often faster. How often to get STI tested can be the same appointment.

Unite Gay Network will not inject you. We will tell you to ask. Join if you want men who already know which clinic in their city is less of a fight.

Disclaimer*

This article was originally published in English. While we have translated it to make the content more accessible to our international members, slight variations may exist between the translated and original versions. For the most accurate and authoritative wording, please refer to the English edition. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to improve our multilingual support.