The HSE provides several critical sexual health vaccines for gay and bisexual men completely free of charge, but access to the HPV vaccine remains a significant gap for adult men.
💉 The Free Vaccine Stack
If you are a man who has sex with men, you can access the following vaccines for free via public STI clinics (like GMHS or GUIDE).
| Vaccine | What it prevents | Cost / Eligibility | Doses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Liver infection (rimming risk) | Free | 2 |
| Hepatitis B | Liver infection (fluid risk) | Free | 3 |
| Mpox (Jynneos) | Mpox lesions and scarring | Free | 2 |
Combined Hep A/B: The HSE usually administers Hepatitis A and B together in a combined shot (Twinrix). It requires three doses over 6 months to give you lifetime immunity. If you drop out after dose one, you are not protected.
💳 The HPV Problem
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil 9) prevents anal and throat cancer, as well as genital warts.
Ireland provides the HPV vaccine for free to school-aged children through the national immunization program. However, the policy for adult men is highly restrictive.
The HPV vaccine is NOT free for adult gay men in Ireland unless you meet very specific clinical criteria (e.g., living with HIV) or are under 25.
If you are over 25, HIV-negative, and want the vaccine (which you should, as it prevents cancer), you will likely have to pay for it privately.
- You must get a private prescription from a doctor.
- You buy the vaccine from a pharmacy. It costs roughly €180 to €200 per dose, and you need three doses over six months.
- You then take the physical box to a private clinic or GP to have a nurse inject it (which may incur an administration fee).
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