Ever wondered what sexual health vaccines you might need? Confused by the alphabet-soup of all the vaccinations recommended for sexually active queers? The Love Tank makes it all easy in their new guide – All In.
If you’re having sex – any kind of sex, any amount of sex – then sexual health includes vaccinations, alongside all the other prevention methods we might be using. Those vaccinations sit alongside doxy PEP, HIV PrEP, U=U, and condoms, gloves and lube. Depending on your age, the types of sex you’re having, who you’re having sex with, and where, there are five different types of sexual health vaccinations to consider right now.
Hepatitis A and B
Most queer men – and people who have sex with them – are eligible for the vaccines against two types of Hepatitis. Although Hepatitis A and B are transmitted in different ways, they are essential vaccines, sometimes offered in a combination dose. There’s an added benefit of the Hep A vaccine: it protects against food and water related transmission if you’re travelling in a part of the world where this is common.
Whilst a vaccine for Hepatitis C doesn’t yet exist, testing and treatment of this type of Hepatitis is starting to drive levels down. If you’re into fisting scenes, chemsex, or having lots of group sex, regular testing for Hep C is recommended.
Mpox
Just a few summers ago we were scrambling for this vaccine, that’s also used to prevent smallpox. Getting a double-dose of the mpox vax is especially important for those of us having lots of sex. If you’re attending multiple-country sex festivals and parties, then mpox vaccinations are essential, especially when there are localised outbreaks. The vaccination not only reduces the likelihood of getting mpox – but if you do get it, the symptoms will be much less severe. There’s more detailed information here.
HPV
Almost everyone has a variant of HPV – it’s easily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Just a generation ago HPV was causing anal and genital warts in most of us, but these are becoming rarer as HPV vaccination programmes kick-in. Similarly, HPV has most commonly been linked to cervical cancer but those early-years vaccination programmes are making those cases drop too. So, why should queer men be concerned about HPV? Because many of us missed out on school-based vaccinations, and because HPV can cause cancer in the neck, head, cock and arse. If an NHS clinic won’t provide vaccination, it’s worth considering a private vaccination: this vaccine prevents cancer. Find out more here.
MenB vaccine
Finally, the MenB vaccine protects against meningococcal but studies have also suggested in can provide protection against gonorrhoea. Last year the UK rolled out the world’s first vaccination using the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea protection, with queer men top-of-the-list for vaccination.
Who gets the vaccines, and who doesn’t
Each of the vaccines above has their own eligibility criteria: some criteria target people by their age, the types of sex they are having, who they are having sex with, and how much sex someone is having.
Health staff in clinics will be able to help you work out which ones to have. If you’re not eligible, but still want to be protected, it’s possible to get vaccinations done privately (but you will be charged to do so).
Getting them for free
Sexual health services on the NHS are free for everyone who is eligible. That means that all the vaccinations detailed above are free, regardless of your migration and employment status. Vaccines not only protect you but others around you – so free vaccinations make good public health practice.
Living with HIV – getting those extra vaccines too
If you’re living with HIV, guidelines suggest that you should be at the front of the line for a bunch of additional vaccines (not all of them related to sexual health). These include annual seasonal flu and COVID vaccines and, sometimes extra shots of the sexual health vaccines mentioned above. Some UK HIV clinics will provide these additional vaccines, or else they’ll be available from your family doctor or local pharmacy. If you’re not “out” to your GP about living with HIV, ask your HIV clinic what your vaccine options are.
Find out more about vaccines, eligibility and how to get hold of them at www.queerhealth.info/vaccines
Illustrations by @lynne.on.paper