Oral Sex and STIs: What You Can Catch, and When You Need a Throat Swab
October 27, 2026
There’s no vaccine for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV or herpes. But four vaccines do protect against infections that can be passed on through sex: mpox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. Many adults who’d benefit have never had them, often because nobody mentioned it, and the rules on who gets them at no cost differ from state to state.
This guide brings together who each vaccine is recommended for, how many doses you need, where state and national programs cover the cost, and the latest research on whether the meningococcal B vaccine protects against gonorrhoea (in short: the newest trial says it doesn’t).
By Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP). Program details checked against state and territory health department pages in October 2026.
The short version
- Mpox: 2 doses, at least 28 days apart. Recommended for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, sex workers and some others. State programs provide it at no cost to eligible people, and you don’t need a Medicare card.
- Hepatitis B: most Australians born after about 2000 were vaccinated as babies; many older adults weren’t. Several states fund it for adults at higher risk.
- Hepatitis A: 2 doses, at least 6 months apart. Recommended for men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs, among others. Adult funding is limited (WA has a program).
- HPV: one dose is funded on the National Immunisation Program for people up to age 25. Recommended for men who have sex with men of any age.
- Meningococcal B vaccine for gonorrhoea: a 2026 Australian trial found it didn’t prevent gonorrhoea in gay and bisexual men. No Australian state offers it for this purpose.
Mpox
Mpox causes a painful rash or sores, often around the genitals, anus or mouth, and spreads mainly through close skin-to-skin contact during sex. Australia has had outbreaks in recent years, and confirmed its first case of the clade Ib strain in May 2025 in a returned traveller.
Who it’s recommended for (Australian Centre for Disease Control and state health departments):
- sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
- sex workers
- people living with HIV who may be exposed
- people travelling to countries with clade I mpox who may have sex there
- it can also be considered for sexual partners of people in these groups (some states include partners in their programs).
Doses: 2 doses at least 28 days apart. Protection is strongest about 2 weeks after the second dose, and there’s currently no recommendation for a booster after the 2-dose course. If you’ve had close contact with someone with mpox, vaccination within 4 days is best, and up to 14 days may still reduce how sick you get.
Cost and where: NSW, Victoria, WA and the ACT all state the vaccine is provided at no cost to eligible people and that you don’t need a Medicare card; Queensland also funds it. Depending on the state, you can get it at public sexual health clinics, some GPs and some pharmacies. Some providers charge a consultation or administration fee, so ask when you book.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver and can become a lifelong infection. It’s spread through blood and through sex (mainly vaginal and anal), and from parent to baby at birth.
- Were you vaccinated as a child? Infant vaccination joined the childhood schedule in 2000, and adolescent school programs ran from the late 1990s. If you were born before about the mid-1980s, you may never have been vaccinated. Your Australian Immunisation Register statement (through myGov) can show what’s recorded, though older or private vaccines aren’t always listed.
- Adults recommended to have it (ASHM): sexual partners and household contacts of people with hepatitis B, men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, people living with HIV or hepatitis C, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and some travellers and workers.
- Doses: usually 3 doses over 6 months for adults.
- Blood tests: a doctor may suggest checking whether you’re already immune or infected before you start, especially if you’re in a higher-risk group. A check after the course is only needed for some people, such as partners of someone with hepatitis B or people with weakened immunity.
We can arrange hepatitis B testing as part of an STI check; see hepatitis testing.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a short-term liver infection spread through tiny amounts of faeces, including during rimming (mouth-to-anus contact) and other sex. It can make adults quite unwell for weeks.
- Recommended for: men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, travellers to many countries, people with chronic liver disease or hepatitis B or C, and some workers (e.g. childcare, plumbing). The Australian STI Management Guidelines also list Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people in custody.
- Doses: 2 doses at least 6 months apart.
- Cost: for most adults it’s paid privately. WA’s health department funds hepatitis A and B vaccines for groups including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people living with HIV. NSW funds hepatitis A after a known exposure, through the local public health unit.
HPV
HPV causes genital warts and several cancers, including cervical, anal and some throat cancers. The vaccine works best before someone is exposed, but it’s still recommended for some adults.
- One dose is funded on the National Immunisation Program for people aged 12 to 25 (usually given in Year 7, with catch-up up to and including age 25).
- People with significantly weakened immunity need 3 doses.
- Adults aged 26 and over usually need 3 doses and pay privately. Men who have sex with men are recommended to have it at any age if they haven’t been vaccinated.
More detail, including cervical and anal screening, in our HPV guide.
What happened to the “gonorrhoea vaccine”?
For several years, observational studies (including research on South Australia’s school meningococcal B program) suggested the meningococcal B vaccine might lower the risk of gonorrhoea, because the two bacteria are closely related. Pooled estimates were around 30 to 40% lower risk, and England began offering it to people at higher risk of gonorrhoea in 2025.
In July 2026, the GoGoVax trial, run by the Kirby Institute and Griffith University and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tested this properly. In 587 gay and bisexual men at high risk of gonorrhoea, the vaccine made no difference to how often gonorrhoea occurred compared with a placebo. The researchers say this matches two other recent randomised trials. Trials in other groups are still under way.
What this means for you:
- No Australian state funds the meningococcal B vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea. State meningococcal B programs are for teenagers and infants, to prevent meningococcal disease.
- Regular testing remains the main way to find and treat gonorrhoea, which usually has no symptoms in the throat or anus. See oral sex and STIs for why throat swabs matter.
- For some gay and bisexual men and trans women at higher risk of syphilis, Doxy-PEP is an option to discuss with a doctor, though it protects much less against gonorrhoea.
Who funds what: state programs at a glance
This table covers adult programs we could confirm on official pages in October 2026. Programs change, and eligibility details matter, so check with the clinic, GP or pharmacy before you go.
| State/territory | Mpox | Hepatitis B (adults) | Hepatitis A (adults) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Yes: gay and bisexual men (cis and trans), sex workers, their partners; no Medicare needed | Yes: groups including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people with HIV or hepatitis C, contacts of people with hepatitis B | Only after a known exposure (public health unit) |
| VIC | Yes: gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans and gender-diverse people, sex workers, partners; no Medicare needed | Yes: groups including men who have sex with men, people with HIV or hepatitis C, contacts of people with hepatitis B | Not confirmed |
| QLD | Yes: eligible people at higher risk | Yes: adults at increased risk who haven’t completed a course | Not found |
| WA | Yes: including people without Medicare | Yes: groups including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people with HIV | Yes: same groups |
| SA | Ask SA sexual health services | Yes: high-risk program incl. men who have sex with men, sex workers, sexual health clients (blood test first if over 15) | Not found |
| ACT | Yes: no Medicare needed | Ask Canberra Sexual Health Centre | Not found |
| TAS, NT | Ask your local sexual health service | Ask your local sexual health service | Not found |
Where a program says the vaccine is provided at no cost, a clinic or pharmacy may still charge a consultation or administration fee.
Where to get vaccinated
- Public sexual health clinics offer most of these vaccines to people in eligible groups, often with no Medicare card needed.
- GPs can give all of them. A telehealth consult is a good place to work out which ones you need, and whether you need a blood test first.
- Pharmacies: pharmacists can give many vaccines, but what they can give, and to whom, differs by state. Call ahead.
Ask for your vaccines to be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register so you have a record.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a vaccine for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or HIV?
No. Testing, condoms and, for some people, PrEP or Doxy-PEP are the main ways to prevent or catch these early. If you might have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, ask about PEP straight away: it must be started within 72 hours.
Do I need a Medicare card to get the mpox vaccine?
Not in the states that say so on their program pages (NSW, Victoria, WA and the ACT). You do need to be in an eligible group. A provider may charge a consultation fee.
I’m on PrEP. Which vaccines should I ask about?
Ask your doctor about hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV and mpox. Hepatitis B status also matters for PrEP itself, which is one reason it’s checked before you start. See how to get PrEP.
How do I know if I’ve already had the hepatitis B vaccine?
Check your Australian Immunisation Register statement in myGov, or ask a doctor for a blood test that shows whether you’re immune. If you were born after 2000 in Australia, you were very likely vaccinated as a baby.
Should I still get the meningococcal B vaccine?
It’s recommended for infants and teenagers, and for some other groups, to prevent meningococcal disease. It isn’t recommended in Australia to prevent gonorrhoea, and the latest trial found it didn’t work for that.
Talk to a doctor about your sexual health
Speak to an Australian doctor by phone or video, usually the same day, 7 days a week. We can check which vaccines you’re due for, arrange STI and hepatitis tests at any pathology collection centre near you, and tell you where to get vaccinated locally. Consults are bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders; without Medicare it’s $55 on weekdays or $75 on weekends and public holidays (fees).
Sources: Australian Centre for Disease Control: Mpox; First mpox clade Ib case confirmed in Australia (May 2025); NSW Health: Mpox; NSW Health: additional funded vaccines; Victorian Department of Health: mpox vaccination; Victorian immunisation schedule and eligibility; HealthyWA: Mpox; WA Health: hepatitis A and B vaccine guidelines; ACT Health: Mpox vaccination; ASHM: hepatitis B prevention and vaccination; Australian STI Management Guidelines: Hepatitis A; Australian CDC: Hepatitis A; ACT Health: HPV vaccination; Kirby Institute: GoGoVax trial results (July 2026); SA Health: Meningococcal B program. This article is general information, not personal medical advice.
