Anyone get vaccines for punting?

[shum]

Thinking of getting the hepatitis B vaccine just in case. Already had the HPV vaccine. Am I just being paranoid though? I know it's pretty unlikely to get most things with protection. Anyone else gotten vaccinations for punting? Hepatitis A is also an option but that only spreads through digestion and blood and isn't common here.

[daviemac]

It's up to you what vaccines you get but personally I think you're being paranoid, unless of course you intend to bareback.

[Doc Holliday]

Thinking of getting the hepatitis B vaccine just in case. Already had the HPV vaccine. Am I just being paranoid though? I know it's pretty unlikely to get most things with protection. Anyone else gotten vaccinations for punting? Hepatitis A is also an option but that only spreads through digestion and blood and isn't common here.

Welcome to the forum. Hep B is advised .. more so than HPV. Hep A not really necessary specifically for punting, but many will have already received it as part of travel vaccinations 

[simon07]

I do not think you can get private HPV esp if not gay.

[Doc Holliday]

I do not think you can get private HPV esp if not gay.

You can obtain it on private prescription. The restrictions for adults (over 25)only apply to NHS.

He says he has had it anyway?

[Strawberry]

I do not think you can get private HPV esp if not gay.

I managed to obtain it privately in 2018 or 2019, I am not gay and was at that time and 43/44 reaching upper end of recommend prescribing age of 45.

Guidance may have changed.

[danielisi]

I do not think you can get private HPV esp if not gay.

You can get it privately. You can also get it on the NHS if you just say you’re gay/bi/flexible. It’s ridiculous k men don’t get it anyway

[Doc Holliday]

You can get it privately. You can also get it on the NHS if you just say you’re gay/bi/flexible. It’s ridiculous k men don’t get it anyway

It's not ridiculous. Both the cost/benefit and risk/benefit criteria do not justify it for all men over 25. This is primarily an adolescent targeted vaccination programme and females are at most risk of HPV related cancer (cervical)

The main reason MSM have 'eventually' been included is that statistics show they suffer a higher rate of HPV related anal cancer compared to women and more especially heterosexual men.

[Thriceweekly]

Better to ask about it when you go for your three month check up at the sexual health centre.....You are doing that presumably/hopefully.

[scutty brown]

I had the B injection more or less forced on me by the clinic when I went for treatment for the clap.......when I said I'd got it from a Romanian they were quite insistent that I needed it.
In the event, at the time there was a shortage of B vaccine, so they gave me Panrix A/B dual treatment instead. Bonus!
I suspect that if you attended the clinic and said you regularly shagged Roms/Thais/Chinese or girls from other "exotic" locations with lower public hygiene standards then you'd quite likely get similar treatment.

[Lilywhite]

I do not think you can get private HPV esp if not gay.

You definitely can in Scotland, even men. You just have to say you punt at a gum clinic.

[scutty brown]

You definitely can in Scotland, even men. You just have to say you punt at a gum clinic.

I didn't know gum clinics offered punting!!!   

[B4bcock]

I had the B injection more or less forced on me by the clinic when I went for treatment for the clap.......when I said I'd got it from a Romanian they were quite insistent that I needed it.
In the event, at the time there was a shortage of B vaccine, so they gave me Panrix A/B dual treatment instead. Bonus!
I suspect that if you attended the clinic and said you regularly shagged Roms/Thais/Chinese or girls from other "exotic" locations with lower public hygiene standards then you'd quite likely get similar treatment.

I had an almost identical experience, probably around six years ago.  I went to the clinic with a rash on my helmet (turned out it was not a STI but caused by a toothy blowjob) and was quizzed about my sexual activity.  The nurse raised her eyebrows when I gave an honest reply to my frequency of punting and asked if I saw East Europeans.  When I confirmed this, she immediately arranged a course of Hep B.

[snaitram99]

Was recommended to get Hep B injection by Cordell Clinic in Newport when I said I got OWO from sex workers, although they thought it low risk. They were very matter of fact and not judgemental. Can't remember if they asked about nationality of workers. Had to have 3 injections within a certain time for whatever vaccine they were using. Fortunately at that time the Clinic had walk in sessions. Now it's moved and is appointment only so more difficult to get to.

[Andywb]

I was offered HepB at a travel clinic used by my GP practice. I was going on a work trip to a remote location in Africa with poor access to medical services. HepB can be spread by dirty needles etc. The risk on the trip was v low but I thought 'why not' and paid for it. TBH the risks from my punting activity is also low - but it made me feel better at the time. I think it only lasts 5 years so effectiveness has probably faded now since it was a while back.

[Strawberry]

I was offered HepB at a travel clinic used by my GP practice. I was going on a work trip to a remote location in Africa with poor access to medical services. HepB can be spread by dirty needles etc. The risk on the trip was v low but I thought 'why not' and paid for it. TBH the risks from my punting activity is also low - but it made me feel better at the time. I think it only lasts 5 years so effectiveness has probably faded now since it was a while back.

Hep B cover tends to last much longer than 5 years, my immunity is tested by the GUM clinic. I've been given perhaps a couple of boosters but it is over 15 years since my first doses - and some medically qualified members here have questioned the need for the earlier boosters.
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[Doc Holliday]

I think it only lasts 5 years so effectiveness has probably faded now since it was a while back.

Assuming you complete the course of vaccinations, then it is now considered lifetime protection, though there are some who do not respond and produce antibodies, so even from completion of the course they may not be immune and lifetime is therefore not really relevant.

Hepatitis B prevalence is generally low in UK population, so your chances of encountering it are low but this does not apply to other countries and given the nationality demographic of UK providers, this potentially increases the risk within the overall sex work environment. Also should you be exposed the virus is highly virulent and the chances of transmission can be quite high. The virus can also survive outside of the body for longer periods .... vastly longer than HIV.

Since circa 2017 all babies in the UK are now routinely immunised against Hep B as part of the infant vaccination regime so for future generations this potentially will not be an issue.

[Doc Holliday]

Hep B cover tends to last much longer than 5 years, my immunity is tested by the GUM clinic. I've been given perhaps a couple of boosters but it is over 15 years since my first doses - and some medically qualified members here have questioned the need for the earlier boosters.
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As we have discussed before Ruth the GUM clinics were not following the correct current guidelines. These have evolved over the years and I would hope that now they are complying?

There is one potential reason with clinics though, which is that that they may not know whether an individual has completed a course and was tested at the time due to the nature of record keeping. They have therefore perhaps had a tendency to test and give boosters when they are no longer considered necessary.

EDIT although the above excuse does not apply to yourself 

[Strawberry]

As we have discussed before Ruth the GUM clinics were not following the correct current guidelines. These have evolved over the years and I would hope that now they are complying?

There is one potential reason with clinics though, which is that that they may not know whether an individual has completed a course and was tested at the time due to the nature of record keeping. They have therefore perhaps had a tendency to test and give boosters when they are no longer considered necessary.

EDIT although the above excuse does not apply to yourself 

Certainly not - I have been a regular visitor for a long time, but now thwarted by someone in authority bringing in a very tight in-frequent window, no guarantee of being seen 'sit & wait' regime. I am now forced to investigate other options to keep myself up-to-date. I do sometimes question the record keeping because sometimes it's like a starting from scratch, 'first consultation'. I guess for some people things may have changed, and not everyone may be aware of useful, relevant information to provide.

[Strawberry]

My advice based on a variety of struggles with local services is 'If the GUM are offering it, take it'. This is because policies and procedures can change in the blink of an eye - the appointment changes were not communicated to myself. I only discovered it when I made my usual coming up to testing time contact, and had equally as important other things booked into the 2 90 minutes 'not guaranteed to be seen' windows of time for the next few weeks. Thankfully I had a kit I bought privately a few months ago when the GUM cancelled & rescheduled my appointment. Checked expiry dates on tests, then got on with taking the samples and getting them into a post box asap.

[Evoker]

I was offered Hep B vaccination and a HPV vaccination when I last got a checkup so I thought I might as well have them if they were offering them.

[sammathy]

I had the B injection more or less forced on me by the clinic when I went for treatment for the clap.......when I said I'd got it from a Romanian they were quite insistent that I needed it.
In the event, at the time there was a shortage of B vaccine, so they gave me Panrix A/B dual treatment instead. Bonus!
I suspect that if you attended the clinic and said you regularly shagged Roms/Thais/Chinese or girls from other "exotic" locations with lower public hygiene standards then you'd quite likely get similar treatment.

That's interesting. I went to Romania last year. In to the local NHS clinic on my return, as a precaution, because I'd had sex with a few girls out there off of Seeking and had some warts come about. Turned out to be nothing in the end, but wasn't offered an injection at any point.