About the disease COVID-19
COVID-19 can cause anything from mild or no symptoms to serious illness. In rare cases, it can lead to death.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include respiratory symptoms and more general symptoms such as feeling unwell, fever, and muscle aches.
The most commonly reported symptoms are:
- runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat
- Other common symptoms include cough, hoarseness, and fever. Some people may also experience other symptoms, either on their own or together with the ones mentioned above. These can include loss of taste or smell, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Children and the elderly may especially present with atypical symptoms.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as for many other respiratory infections. It is therefore not possible to distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory infections based on symptoms alone.
Who should get the vaccine against coronavirus?
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) recommends that the following groups receive a booster dose before the autumn-winter season 2025/2026:
- People living in care homes and nursing homes
- People aged 75 and older
- People aged 18–74 who belong to a risk group
- People aged 12–17 with serious underlying medical conditions
- Children aged 6 months – 11 years with serious underlying medical conditions, following individual assessment
Although not included in the NIPH’s recommendations, individuals aged 65–74 who are not in a risk group may still choose to be vaccinated through the adult immunisation programme. Children and adolescents who are covered by the recommendations shall also be offered the vaccine against coronavirus through the adult immunisation programme.
Why is the vaccine against coronavirus recommended?
The vaccine against coronavirus helps protect against serious illness and death caused by COVID-19. It also provides some protection against infection, but this protection is relatively short-lived. This is because antibody levels decrease over time, and the virus continues to change.
The people who are still recommended to get the vaccine through the adult immunisation programme are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 than others. If you are in a group recommended for vaccination by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, you should get a booster dose every year to maintain the best possible protection.
Where can I get the vaccine against coronavirus?
Your local authority is responsible for offering the vaccine against coronavirus if you are eligible through the adult immunisation programme. You can find information about where to get the vaccine on your municipality´s website. Your general practitioner (GP) may also offer the vaccine or let you know where you can get it. The coronavirus vaccine should be available year-round.
If you are not covered by the adult immunisation programme, you will need a prescription from a doctor and must buy the vaccine at a pharmacy. It can then be administered by your GP, a vaccination clinic, or at some pharmacies.
Immunisation schedule
The vaccine is given as an injection in the upper arm.
Primary immunisation:
- Adults and children aged 5 years and older: one dose
- Children aged 6 months to 4 years: three doses of an age-appropriate vaccine. The second dose is recommended at least 3 weeks after the first, followed by a third dose at least 8 weeks after the second.
Booster dose:
- One dose, regardless of age
- People with severely weakened immune systems may need additional doses.
This should be assessed in consultation with a doctor.
You can receive other vaccines at the same time, such as the vaccine against influenza or the vaccine against pneumococcal disease.
It takes 7 to 14 days after vaccination for the vaccine to take effect. For the best possible protection, you should get vaccinated between October and December. However, vaccination can still be beneficial as long as the coronavirus is circulating.
You can receive the vaccine even if you have recently had COVID-19.
If you are unwell with a fever above 38°C, you should wait until the fever has passed before getting vaccinated.
How often should I get the vaccine against coronavirus?
If you are recommended to receive the vaccine against coronavirus, you should get vaccinated once a year, regardless of whether you have previously had COVID-19 or been vaccinated. The protection from the vaccine decreases over time, mainly because the virus continues to change, but also because antibody levels naturally drop. Receiving the most up-to-date vaccine annually provides the best possible protection.
How much does the vaccine against coronavirus cost?
The cost depends on whether you are eligible through the adult immunisation programme and which municipality you live in.
Adults and children in risk groups can get the vaccine at a reduced price through the adult immunisation programme. The co-payment (including both the vaccine and administration) is NOK 110 if given on its own, or NOK 85 if given at the same time as the influenza and/or pneumococcal vaccine.
If you are not eligible for the adult immunisation programme, the cost of the vaccine itself is over NOK 1,000. In addition, the vaccination site will charge a service fee, which varies from place to place.
If you are entitled to receive the vaccine through the immunisation programme, it is important to go through your municipality´s vaccination service—otherwise you may have to pay more.
Effectiveness of the vaccine against coronavirus
Most people have some level of protection against COVID-19 following infection and/or vaccination. The effectiveness of a yearly booster dose is therefore measured by comparing the rate of illness in people who have not received a booster with the rate in those who have received one during the same year.
Studies show that the booster dose increases protection against severe COVID-19 by approximately 50% in people aged 65 and older. This means that unvaccinated individuals have nearly twice the risk of developing severe COVID-19 compared to those who receive an annual booster.
Those who become seriously ill are mainly the oldest individuals (aged 75 and over) and people in risk groups.
Side effects of the vaccine against coronavirus
Most side effects from mRNA vaccines occur within 1–2 days after vaccination. They are usually mild or moderate and go away on their own within a few days. Compared to traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines appear to cause more of these mild reactions. Commonly reported side effects include:
- Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- Fatigue, exhaustion, headache, diarrhoea, muscle aches, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea/vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes
Inflammation of the heart lining (pericarditis) or heart muscle (myocarditis) has been reported as rare side effects of mRNA vaccines. As a precaution, people who developed myocarditis or pericarditis after receiving the vaccine and who also belong to a risk group should discuss further vaccination with their doctor.
The vaccine against coronavirus
The vaccines were first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2022. Their safety and effectiveness were tested in large clinical trials with more than 30,000 participants before approval. In Norway, the first dose was administered on 27 December 2020. More than 95% of people aged 65 and over have received at least two doses, while the figure for people aged 18–64 is 86%.
The vaccine currently offered through the immunisation programme is Comirnaty, an mRNA vaccine. It contains messenger RNA (mRNA) that instructs muscle cells near the injection site to produce the spike protein, one of the surface proteins found on the coronavirus.
The body’s immune system recognises the spike protein as foreign and activates both antibody-producing cells (B-cells) and immune cells that destroy infected cells.
Because mRNA breaks down quickly, it is enclosed in small fatty particles (lipid nanoparticles) that protect it until it enters the cells. The amount of mRNA in the vaccine is adjusted for different age groups and contains the following doses:
- Children aged 12 and up, and adults: 30 µg mRNA per dose
- Children aged 5 to 11 years: 10 µg mRNA per dose
- Children aged 6 months to 4 years: 3 µg mRNA per dose