Vaccinations
Vaccinations help protect you from diseases and infections.
They’re a safe way to lower your risk before you come into contact with germs.
Vaccines work with your body’s natural defences to make your immune system stronger.
Getting vaccinated is a healthy choice that protects you, your family, friends, and community.
Vaccines protect you and the people around you. They are also a great way to protect your sexual health:
- If you’re at higher risk of infections for example:
- men who have sex with men
- people who change sexual partners often
- people who inject drugs
Vaccines can help protect you from infections like Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
There are lots of vaccines, from flu to measles. For sexual health, the most common ones are:
- Hepatitis A – A virus that affects the liver and spreads through infected poo. Offered to men who have sex with men.
- Hepatitis B – A blood-borne virus. Offered to people at risk, including:
- men who have sex with men
- sex workers
- people who inject drugs
- people living with HIV.
- HPV vaccine – Protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus spread through skin contact (usually during sex).
- Mpox vaccine – Mpox is rare in the UK, but some groups (such as gay, bisexual, transgender people and men who have sex with men) may be eligible for vaccination.
- Gonorrohea – MenB vaccine (Bexsero) – The MenB vaccine helps protect against gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through unprotected sex. It’s recommended for those at a higher risk of infection, including:
- men who have sex with men
- gay and bisexual men
If you wait until you’ve been exposed to an illness, it might be too late for the vaccine to work.
Keep your vaccines up to date and know your risks.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a very common group of viruses.
They do not cause any problems in most people, but some types can cause genital warts.
Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through skin-to-skin contact during all types of sex—oral, vaginal, or anal.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, as well as some other cancers. It does not protect against all types of HPV.
HPV vaccination is given before exposure to the virus, usually at school for children aged 12 to 13 years old. However, for those who may have missed the school vaccinations, vaccines are still offered up to the age of 25.
HPV vaccines are also offered to men who have sex with men (under the age of 45).
Mpox (previously called monkeypox) is a viral infection spread through close contact, including sexual contact.
There have been a few cases in the UK, but the risk is low.
You may be offered the vaccine if:
- You’re a man who has sex with men and have multiple partners, attend group sex or sex-on-premises venues.
- You’ve had contact with someone who has mpox.
You can check your eligibility and get vaccines from your local GP or sexual health clinic.
You can find your nearest GP or sexual health clinic using our find a service tool.
