The first injection arrives when your child is just six weeks old, and the last one in lower secondary school. In between lies a carefully planned programme that protects your child against twelve serious diseases – completely free of charge. Here is a clear overview of what your child receives, and when.
If you have recently moved to Norway, the childhood vaccination programme (barnevaksinasjonsprogrammet) may work a little differently from what you are used to. It is run by the public health system, it is voluntary, and it is free. Norway has one of the highest vaccination uptakes in the world: in 2024, more than 95 percent of children had received the MMR vaccine by school age, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI).
If you live in Drammen, your local helsestasjon (child health centre) provides most vaccines during the first years, and the school health service takes over from school age. Your GP – for example here at Hotvet legesenter in Rosenkrantzgata 75, in central Drammen – is also a natural person to talk to if you have questions or if your child has a health situation that needs extra attention.
How the Norwegian system works
A few things often surprise families who are new to Norway. First, routine childhood vaccines are not given at the GP's office but at the municipal health centre, free of charge. Second, vaccination is recommended but voluntary – no one is forced. Third, everything is recorded in a national register (SYSVAK), so the record follows your child even if you move within the country. The programme protects against twelve diseases: rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella and human papillomavirus (HPV). Norway has reached the World Health Organization's elimination targets for measles, rubella and polio.
The 2026 vaccination schedule
The overview below follows the recommended schedule from Helsenorge and FHI. The timings are approximate – the health centre always adapts to the individual child.
| Age / grade | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks | Rotavirus (against gastroenteritis). BCG against tuberculosis is offered to children in defined risk groups. |
| 3 months | Rotavirus · diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B (combination vaccine) · pneumococcal |
| 5 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B · pneumococcal |
| 12 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B · pneumococcal |
| 15 months | MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) |
| 2nd grade (approx. 7 yrs) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio |
| 6th grade (approx. 11 yrs) | MMR (dose 2) |
| 7th grade (approx. 12 yrs) | HPV (against cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers) |
| 10th grade (approx. 15 yrs) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio |
In addition, a whooping cough vaccine is recommended for pregnant women at the antenatal check-up around week 24. This protects the newborn during the first vulnerable weeks, before the baby's own vaccinations begin. Babies born before week 32 of pregnancy receive an extra newborn dose to reduce the risk of severe whooping cough.
The vaccines in the programme are free and voluntary. If your child misses a vaccine at the usual time – for example due to illness or a move – they have the right to catch up later, all the way up to the age of 20.
Is it safe to give so many vaccines?
This is one of the most common questions parents ask, and it is a perfectly reasonable one. The vaccines in the programme are thoroughly tested and continuously monitored. The most common reactions are mild and temporary: a little soreness or redness where the injection was given, and occasionally a slight fever or fussiness for a day or two. Serious reactions are very rare.
Before each vaccination, the public health nurse asks whether the child is well and whether there were any reactions to previous vaccines. If you are unsure, you can always raise your questions – with the health centre, the school health service, or your GP.
How to check what your child has received
All vaccinations are recorded in the national vaccination register, SYSVAK. On Helsenorge.no you can log in with BankID and see a full overview of which vaccines your child has had, and when. You can also print a vaccination card in both Norwegian and English – useful if you are travelling or moving. If you are new to Norway's digital health services, we have written a simple introduction: How to use Helsenorge.no.
When should you contact a doctor?
Most vaccine reactions are mild and pass on their own. But if your child develops a high fever that does not subside, seems unusually drowsy or unwell, or you are worried for any reason, contact a GP during the day or the out-of-hours emergency service (legevakt) on 116 117 outside opening hours. If you see signs of a serious allergic reaction – difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat – always call 113.
Vaccination is prevention at its best: small steps in childhood that bring peace of mind for many years to come. If you have questions about your child's health more generally, you are welcome to raise them with your GP.
Does your family need a GP in Drammen?
Hotvet legesenter is located at Rosenkrantzgata 75, in central Drammen. Our six GPs have open spots on their lists, and we welcome the whole family – young and old. Several of our doctors speak English.
See available GP spots