Prevention
Do I need to be Vaccinated?
If you are a gay or bisexual man, a man who has sex with men (gbMSM) or are transgender, it is recommended by the National Immunisation Committee (NIAC) that you are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV (human papillomavirus). A vaccine is a substance that improves immunity (protection) to a particular disease.
Vaccines can protect you against many harmful diseases before you come into contact with them. Vaccines are safe and effective.
Hepatitis A & B
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are viruses that infect the liver. Hepatitis A usually causes a mild illness and occasionally can cause more severe illness. Hepatitis A has been increasingly affecting men who have sex with men across Europe, including Ireland. Hepatitis B is a major cause of serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer that affect millions of people worldwide. Both hepatitis A and B can be prevented with vaccination. The hepatitis vaccines are freely available in public STI clinics.
The vaccine is usually given over a period of six months and usually involves three injections. You’ll be asked to return after you have completed the course for a blood test to check how you have responded. Some people respond really well and never need to be checked again. Some people respond less well and may need boosters in the future. A small number of people don’t respond to the vaccine.
Find an STI clinic near you here
HPV
HPV stands for ‘human papillomavirus’, which is a group of more than 100 viruses. HPV is very common – most people will be infected with a form of HPV in their lifetime. HPV infection is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s. Genital Warts are caused by viruses from the human papilloma virus (HPV) family.
There are over 100 different types of HPV that can infect the skin and mucous membranes (for example the throat, anus and penis). Persistence of some types of HPV infections can lead to cancers e.g. HPV types 16 and 18 cause the majority of HPV-associated cancers, notably anal, throat, penile and cervical cancer.
The risk of anal cancer in gbMSM is higher than in heterosexual men. If you also have HIV, this risk is higher again. In addition, gbMSM are more likely to get genital warts. HPV vaccination is an effective way to reduce your risk of genital warts and your risk of developing HPV associated cancer in the future.
The HPV vaccine is available for all gbMSM, including gbMSM living with HIV, up to and including 45 years of age through public STI and HIV clinics. Ask a nurse or doctor at your clinic for more information. The vaccine is usually given over a period of 6-12 months and usually involves three injections.
Find an STI clinic near you here
MPOX (Monkeypox)
MPOX Update 6th September 2023:
Gay and bisexual men who have sex with men, as well as trans people with multiple partners, who have not yet been vaccinated, are encouraged to visit the HSE website at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mpox/vaccine/ and arrange an appointment for vaccination, which is currently available free in some STI clinics in Dublin and Galway.
You can get the mpox vaccine at these locations:
Mater Hospital, Dublin
70 Eccles Street,
Basement level,
Dublin 7
Phone: 01 803 2965
Email:mpxvax@mater.ie
St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin
Carew House,
St Vincent’s Hospital,
Merrion Rd,
Dublin 4
Email: mpoxvaccines@svhg.ie
Galway STI clinic
Infectious Diseases Clinic,
University Hospital Galway,
Newcastle Road, Galway
Phone 091 542 294 and ask for the mpox clinic.
Who can get a Monkeypox Vaccine?
You can get a monkeypox vaccine if you are a gay or bisexual man or transgender person and one of the following applies to you:
- You have been diagnosed with a bacterial STI (sexually transmitted infection) in the past 6 months. For example gonorrhoea, syphilis or chlamydia.
- You have been diagnosed with genital herpes for the first time in the past 6 months.
- You have had 3 or more sexual partners in the past 3 months.
- You have had group sex in the past 6 months.
- You have had sex in a sex-on-premises venue in the past 6 months — this can include a sauna, dark room or sex club.
At this time, the monkeypox vaccine is not considered necessary if you have had monkeypox infection before. If you have received a first dose of the monkeypox vaccine already, you can book your second dose online. Wait 4 weeks since your first dose and tell your vaccinator that this is your second dose.
Where can I get more information?
The HSE has developed a comprehensive FAQ document which you can download here.
It’s important to get information from a reliable source such as the Health Service Executive (HSE) or Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). At man2man.ie, we are working with these agencies on the response to monkeypox with our partners in the MPOWER. We’ll be updating the information on our website and through social media as the situation changes.
Health Protection Surveillance Centre – Monkeypox
Health Service Executive – Monkeypox
MPOWER Monkeypox Information