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Have you ever thought about special vaccinations for men, or do you even have some of them in your vaccination record? Almost all of us are vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, and diphtheria. These vaccinations are administered in childhood and refreshed at most once later in life. They are independent of gender and sexual orientation. However, there are also some vaccinations that could be particularly useful for men. We will tell you which ones these are, whether you need them, and how they work.
Vaccination against hepatitis A
Although hepatitis A infection is not as dangerous as hepatitis B and C, vaccination is still advisable for men. The disease is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, usually through water or food contaminated with viruses. In theory, it is also possible to become infected through infected sex toys or other people.
If you have hepatitis A, you will develop acute liver inflammation. Although it does not become chronic, it is still unpleasant. Once you have recovered from the infection, you are immune. It is extremely unlikely that you will contract the disease again.
How is hepatitis A vaccinated against?
It is an “inactivated vaccine” in which inactivated viruses are injected in combination with an aluminum adjuvant. You can be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B individually or in combination.
You need two doses of the vaccine, administered six months apart. For the combination vaccine, adults over the age of 16 need three doses. The vaccine is recommended for men who have sex with men. Once completed, you do not need a booster shot.
Health insurance only covers the vaccination if recommended by STIKO. If you have sexual contact with men, you belong to the relevant group according to the RKI and can apply to have the costs covered by your health insurance.
You can usually get a vaccination appointment either from your family doctor, who can order the serum for you, or at a tropical medicine center. Some health authorities also offer vaccinations.
Vaccination against hepatitis B
Infection with hepatitis B viruses occurs almost exclusively through contact with contaminated blood and body fluids. In Germany, there is a general recommendation for basic immunization of infants and adolescents. However, you can still catch up on your vaccination protection as an adult.
Hepatitis B is transmitted quickly because the viruses remain active not only in the body but also outside it. Theoretically, you can even become infected from your partner’s toothbrush, sex toys, or even their razor. The problem is that a person can be contagious before they show any symptoms. Those who are chronically infected may transmit the virus for years.
After infection, it takes up to 120 days for the first symptoms to appear. They are similar to those of the flu and may include jaundice. Many adults recover from the disease without any consequences, but it can become chronic and last for months.
How is hepatitis B vaccinated against?
The vaccination schedule depends on the vaccine. As a rule, you need at least two and a maximum of four doses. Three injections are most common. You receive the first dose, the second injection one month later, and the last injection six months later.
Shortened vaccination schedules are possible if, for example, you want to go on vacation urgently. In this case, the second and third doses are administered one week after the first vaccination and 21 days after that. This three-dose combination is not sufficient to establish long-term vaccine protection. You will need a fourth shot after six to 12 months.
Since 2022, the HEPLISAV B vaccine has been available for people over the age of 18. It is given in two doses and with a shortened vaccination schedule.
Since the hepatitis B vaccination is recommended by STIKO, your health insurance will cover the costs for you. It is best to get vaccinated in combination with hepatitis A if you have not already had this vaccination.
Vaccination against MPOX (monkeypox)
Smallpox is actually considered to be eradicated, but monkeypox has been spreading repeatedly for several years. Until 2022, it primarily affected animals, but since April 2022, there has been an increase in transmission among humans.
The virus is transmitted through mucous membrane and skin contact, especially if the skin is damaged. Sexual intercourse is considered a common route of transmission, although there is no scientific evidence to date of transmission through sperm.
The symptoms begin like the flu, with muscle pain, fever, and headaches. The typical pustules in the genital and anal area only appear after a few days to weeks. Those affected are contagious until the last pustule has disappeared. The healing time takes three weeks on average.
Monkeypox cases have primarily been observed in transgender and gay men, so vaccination is particularly important for men.
How is MPOX vaccinated against?
Imvanex is a reliable and approved vaccine against monkeypox available in the EU. The German AIDS charity reports that vaccination is recommended as a protective measure for men who have sex with multiple men.
The vaccination provides reliable protection against infection and, in the event of illness, against severe progression. In most cases, you will have to pay the costs yourself, but as a high-risk patient, you can claim them back from your health insurance company.
Incidentally, STIKO recommends not only preventive vaccination, but also subsequent vaccination if, for example, you have had sex with an infected person. If you do so within 14 days of contact with the infected person and are symptom-free at the time, you can prevent the disease.
If you are infected with HIV, you can also be vaccinated against monkeypox. In this case, the recommendation is that you need two doses, even if you have already had a classic smallpox vaccination.
Vaccination against HPV
The HPV vaccination is standard practice, especially for young girls, as it protects against cervical cancer. It is used much less frequently in young and adult men.
An HPV infection can lead not only to cervical cancer in people with a uterus, but also to cancer in the genital and anal areas. Even carcinomas in the throat and mouth can be caused by the virus.
Immunization is already recommended for children from the age of nine, regardless of gender. STIKO came to this recommendation for boys because the papilloma virus can be dangerous not only for girls but also for men.
According to the AOK, the following diseases are diagnosed each year:
- 250 carcinomas of the penis
- 600 anal carcinomas
- 750 cancers of the throat and mouth caused by HPV infections
Contrary to popular belief, the HPV vaccine cannot cause HPV infection!
How is HPV vaccinated against?
Ideally, children should be vaccinated from the age of nine. The vaccine is then administered in a two-dose schedule. After the first vaccination, the second dose must be given after 13 months at the latest.
A third booster vaccination is due at the age of 15. If you are over 15 years old when you receive your first vaccination, you will need three doses from the outset. You will receive the second dose two months after the first vaccination and the third dose six months after the first vaccination.
According to current knowledge, HPV protection is long-lasting. Once full vaccination protection has been established, it does not need to be repeated. The cost of the vaccination is covered by your health insurance.
Conclusion: Vaccinations for men protect against diseases
If you are vaccinated against hepatitis A, B, MPOX, and HPV, you have a good level of protection as a gay man. However, keep in mind that these vaccinations do not protect against all possible STIs and communicable diseases. Condoms are still a very important tool for safer sex. However, they do not protect against monkeypox and diseases that are also transmitted through droplets and smear infections.