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 have to pay for it privately. See the steps below for how to navigate this.
📍 How to Claim
For the free HSE vaccines (Hep A/B, Mpox): You do not need a GP referral. You can access these directly from public STI clinics.
- Book an appointment at a public clinic (like GMHS or the GUIDE clinic).
- Ask the nurse or doctor during your consultation. If they have stock, they will usually administer dose one on the spot.
- The clinic will schedule your follow-up doses. In practice you usually book a general sexual-health/STI appointment at a public clinic and raise the vaccines there, rather than a dedicated vaccine-only slot.
For the private HPV vaccine: If you do not meet the HSE criteria for a free shot, you must handle the logistics yourself:
- Get a script: Ask a private GP or an online doctor service for a private prescription for Gardasil 9.
- Buy the vial: Take the prescription to a high-street pharmacy. It costs roughly €180 to €200 per dose, and you need three doses over six months.
- Get injected: Book a "vaccine administration" slot with your GP or a private sexual health clinic to have a nurse inject it. You will likely pay a separate administration fee for this visit. Expect a separate administration fee on top of the vial cost for the nurse or GP to inject it — ask the practice for their charge when you book, as it isn't standardised.
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