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Vaccination

You can get vaccinated against some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in medical practices, and depending on where you live, in pharmacies and sexual health centres. This is the easiest and most effective way to get protected.

  1. The key takeaways
  2. HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination
  3. Hepatitis B vaccination
  4. Hepatitis A vaccination
  5. Mpox (monkeypox) vaccination

The key takeaways

  • The FOPH recommends vaccination against hepatitis B and HPV (human papilloma virus).
  • For high-risk groups, vaccination against hepatitis A and mpox (monkeypox) is also recommended.
  • Talk to a medical professional about vaccinations or get advice from a sexual health centre.

HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination

The FOPH recommends that all adolescents and young people get the HPV vaccination. Specifically, this means:

  • 11- to 14-year-olds: two vaccinations or
  • 15- to 26-year-olds: three vaccinations If you are not yet sexually active, if possible, get vaccinated before you first have sex. This is because the protection decreases if you have already been infected with the types of HPV that the vaccination protects against.

The costs of HPV vaccination for 11- to 26-year-olds are covered by the compulsory health insurance.

**Good to know: **HPV can cause various types of cancer and genital warts. The most common type of cancer caused by HPV is cervical, but it can also cause other types, such as anal cancer.

Because vaccination covers the most important – but not all – types of HPV that may cause cancer, regular gynaecological screenings are still necessary even if you’re vaccinated.

Hepatitis B vaccination

The FOPH recommends the hepatitis B vaccination

  • for infants
  • for adolescents aged between 11 and 15 who have not yet been vaccinated
  • for people aged 15 or over who have had several sexual partners
  • for other people at increased risk, for example health workers and those who inject or snort substances (you can check with a healthcare professional to see whether you’re at increased risk) The costs of vaccination are covered by the compulsory health insurance.

Hepatitis A vaccination

The FOPH recommends the hepatitis A vaccination to anyone with an increased risk of infection. This includes

  • Men, trans people, or non-binary people who (also) have sex with men and/or trans or non-binary people.
  • People who inject substances.

If you’re not sure whether vaccination is recommended for you, talk to a medical professional. For people with an increased risk of infection the vaccination costs are covered by the compulsory health insurance.

Mpox (monkeypox) vaccination

The FOPH recommends the mpox vaccination to anyone with an increased risk of infection. This includes

  • Men, trans people and non-binary people who frequently have multiple sexual partners and (also) have sex with men, trans or non-binary people.

The vaccination costs are covered by the compulsory health insurance. If you’re not sure whether vaccination is recommended for you, talk to a medical professional.