Vaccines in Portugal: Gay and Bisexual Men

Overview

Portugal's SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) provides several vaccines free of charge for gay and bisexual men under the risk-group provisions of the national vaccination programme. The most important ones are Mpox, Hepatitis A and B, and — for younger men — HPV.

Mpox (Monkeypox)

Cost: Free for gay and bisexual men Route: GAT/CheckpointLX or hospital infectious diseases department

Portugal prioritised gay and bisexual men for Mpox vaccination during and after the 2022 outbreak. The Jynneos (Imvanex) vaccine remains available for free as a two-dose series for men who have sex with men.

How to access:

CheckpointLX (Lisbon): checkpointlx.org — check the current vaccination schedule; GAT coordinates Mpox vaccination and can book you in
GAT Porto: gat.pt for current availability
Hospital Curry Cabral (Lisbon): Doenças Infecciosas — can also refer you
SNS 24: 808 24 24 24 — can direct you to the nearest vaccination point

If you have already had one dose or previously had Mpox, tell the vaccination team — the schedule may differ.

Hepatitis A

Cost: Free for gay and bisexual men (risk group provision) Route: Centro de Saúde or Doenças Infecciosas

Hepatitis A is transmitted sexually (oral-anal contact) and through contaminated food/water. Gay and bisexual men are considered a risk group under the Portuguese vaccination programme, and Hep A vaccination is available free at the Centro de Saúde with a request to your Médico de Família.

Two doses are required. If your GP is unfamiliar with this provision, mention "vacinação para grupos de risco — hepatite A" and ask for a referral to the Centro de Saúde vaccination nurse.

Private clinics and travel vaccine centres also offer Hep A if you prefer to go private: roughly €50–70 per dose.

Hepatitis B

Cost: Free for gay and bisexual men (risk group provision) Route: Centro de Saúde

Hepatitis B vaccination is available free under the SNS risk-group provisions for gay and bisexual men. Three doses are required over six months (0, 1, and 6 months), though an accelerated schedule is available if you need faster protection.

Request via your Médico de Família or at your Centro de Saúde vaccination clinic. Mention you are seeking the risk-group Hep B series — "vacinação hepatite B para grupos de risco."

If you are already immune (previous natural infection or completed vaccination), a blood titre test will confirm this before you start the series.

Combined Hep A+B vaccine (Twinrix) can cover both with fewer appointments — ask if this is available.

HPV

Cost: Free for boys born from 2020 onwards (national programme); adults pay privately Route: Private clinic or travel vaccine centre

Portugal extended HPV vaccination to boys in the national programme, but eligibility phases in gradually by birth year. Most adult gay and bisexual men will not qualify for the free programme and will need to pay privately.

Private cost: approximately €140–160 per dose; three doses required (0, 2, and 6 months), giving a total of roughly €420–480. Some providers offer a two-dose schedule for those vaccinated before age 15.

Brands available in Portugal: Gardasil 9 (covers 9 HPV types including those causing most anal and penile cancers, and genital warts). Cervarix covers fewer types and is not recommended for gay and bisexual men.

Where to access privately: travel vaccine centres (e.g., Clínica Internacional), private hospital outpatient departments, some GAT-affiliated clinics.

If you are under 26 and have not been vaccinated, the cost-benefit case is strong. Even for those over 26, vaccination is recommended if you have not been exposed to all nine HPV types — discuss with a Doenças Infecciosas doctor or GAT.

Summary Table

Vaccine	Cost for Gay Men	Route
Mpox (Jynneos)	Free	GAT/CheckpointLX or hospital
Hepatitis A	Free (risk group)	Centro de Saúde via GP
Hepatitis B	Free (risk group)	Centro de Saúde via GP
HPV (Gardasil 9)	~€420–480 total	Private clinic