If you have recently moved to Norway, the flu vaccination system here may work differently from what you are used to. There is no automatic invitation letter and no nationwide booking portal for it. Instead, your municipality and your GP handle it locally – and the vaccine becomes available from the beginning of October. Here is how it works, and what to do in Drammen.
How flu vaccination works in Norway
Norway does not vaccinate the whole population against seasonal influenza. The vaccine is recommended primarily to people at increased risk of serious illness, and it is delivered through the voksenvaksinasjonsprogrammet – the adult immunisation programme. Two things follow from that:
- Your municipality (in your case, Drammen kommune) is responsible for offering the vaccine to people in the risk groups, and publishes each autumn where and when.
- Your fastlege (regular GP) either vaccinates you at the practice or tells you where to go. Pharmacies and some employers also offer it.
Anyone outside the risk groups can still choose to be vaccinated. Nobody will chase you about it, so it is worth putting a note in your calendar for October.
When can you get it?
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet, or FHI) states that the vaccine is available from the beginning of October, and that October to December is the recommended window. It takes 10–14 days after the injection before you can expect protection, and influenza epidemics in the northern hemisphere usually run from December to April.
Missed December? It is still worth getting. FHI notes that the vaccine remains useful throughout the winter season.
Who is it recommended for?
According to FHI's vaccination handbook and Helsenorge, annual flu vaccination is recommended for:
- Everyone aged 65 and over
- Pregnant women after week 12 (2nd and 3rd trimester)
- Children and adults with chronic lung disease, including asthma with reduced lung function
- Chronic cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Serious chronic kidney or liver disease
- Serious chronic neurological disease or injury
- A weakened immune system due to illness or treatment
- Obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m² or above
- Children born very prematurely, particularly before week 32
It is also recommended for healthcare workers with patient contact, mainly to protect vulnerable patients. If that is your job, check with your employer – many arrange vaccination at the workplace.
Not sure whether you belong to a risk group? That is a perfectly reasonable question to bring to your GP – for example at your annual health check.
The inactivated flu vaccine is recommended in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. FHI states that it protects both mother and baby, and that it does not increase the risk of birth defects, stillbirth or premature birth. See also Pregnancy in Drammen: your GP's role.
Where to get vaccinated in Drammen
- Your GP practice. Many practices in Drammen run dedicated flu vaccination days during the autumn.
- Drammen kommune's own service. The municipality publishes locations and dates each year on its website.
- Pharmacies. Several pharmacies in central Drammen offer flu vaccination.
- Your workplace. Some employers arrange sessions on site.
If you do not yet have a fastlege, you can register or change GP through Helsenorge using BankID. The change takes effect on the first day of the following month, so if you want a GP in place before the flu season, late August is good timing.
Common questions
Why is it recommended at all?
Most healthy adults recover from influenza within three to ten days. For some it is more serious. FHI reports that more than 5,000 hospital admissions a year in Norway are due to serious complications of influenza, and that an average of 900 people die from it annually. The vaccine's effectiveness varies from year to year and averages around 60 per cent, meaning roughly 6 in 10 vaccinated people are protected against influenza illness. It is not absolute protection, but it reduces the risk of a severe course.
Can I have it at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes. FHI states you can receive other vaccines at the same time, such as the COVID-19 vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine. Discuss with your doctor what is relevant for you.
Do children need two doses?
Children under 9 who have not had a flu vaccine before are given two doses at least four weeks apart. After the age of 9, one dose is enough. Children aged 2–17 may be offered a nasal spray instead of an injection; the doctor and parents decide together which suits best. Note that the seasonal flu vaccine is separate from Norway's childhood immunisation programme, which runs through the helsestasjon and school health service.
I am allergic to eggs. Can I be vaccinated?
All flu vaccines available in Norway are grown in hens' eggs and may contain traces of egg protein. FHI's assessment is that the vast majority of people with egg allergy can still be vaccinated at a GP practice or health centre in the normal way. If you have previously had a severe immediate allergic reaction to egg or to a vaccine, raise it with your doctor beforehand.
I have a cold. Should I postpone?
If you have a fever above 38°C, wait until it has passed. A mild cold is usually not a barrier. You should have the vaccine even if you recently had influenza.
Why every year?
Influenza viruses change constantly, so the vaccine is updated ahead of each season following World Health Organization recommendations. For 2026/2027 it contains three virus types – two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. Protection from last year's dose also fades, so an updated dose gives the best result.
Side effects
The most common reactions to the injected vaccine are soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site; some people get a fever, mild malaise or muscle aches. The injected vaccines contain only parts of non-live influenza virus and cannot give you the flu. The nasal spray may cause a blocked or runny nose. Allergic reactions and other serious side effects are rare.
Symptoms after vaccination are not necessarily caused by the vaccine – they can be signs of other illness. If you are worried, contact a doctor.
Need a GP before the flu season?
Hotvet legesenter is at Rosenkrantzgata 75, in the centre of Drammen. Several of our GPs have capacity on their lists, and our staff speak English.
See available GP placesThis article gives general information and does not replace individual assessment. If you are unsure whether the flu vaccine is right for you, talk to your doctor. For acute severe breathing difficulty or other life-threatening symptoms, call 113. Outside opening hours, contact the out-of-hours service (legevakt) on 116 117.