Which vaccines do adults need?
Article
|Updated
Some vaccines you take in childhood require booster doses. Some vaccines are also recommended for the elderly because age poses a risk for a severe disease course for some diseases.
Contact your family doctor or travel vaccination clinic to arrange an appointment for vaccination.
Which vaccines do you need?
| I am/ have: | What do I need a vaccine against? | How often? |
| 18 years or older | Diphtheria/ tetanus/ pertussis (whooping cough)/ polio | Every 10 years |
| Measles/mumps/rubella | 1 dose if not been vaccinated/ had the diseases | |
| 65 years or older | Influenza | Every year |
| Pneumococcal disease | Every 6th year | |
| Coronavirus | As recommended | |
| Chronic diseases | Many chronic diseases give increased risk for diseases that can be vaccinated against. For further details, see the table below. | |
| Pregnant | Influenza, coronavirus and whooping cough | 2nd and 3rd trimester |
| Employee in the health service with patient contact | Influenza | Every year |
| Job requirements | Many occupations may have an increased risk for infectious diseases that can be vaccinated against - Occupational vaccination | |
| Travel plans | Travel vaccines | |
Vaccines against chronic diseases
| I have a chronic disease: | Influenza vaccine | Coronavirus vaccine | Pneumococcal vaccine |
| Chronic lung disease | Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
| Chronic cardiovascular disease (other than well-regulated high blood pressure), particularly people with severe heart failure, severe heart failure, low cardiac output or pulmonary hypertension |
Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
| Diabetes, type 1 and 2 | Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
| Chronic liver failure | Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
| Chronic renal failure | Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
|
Chronic neurological disease or injury, particularly people with reduced lung capacity and/ or coughing strength |
Every year | As recommended | Individual assessment |
| Impaired immune system as a result of organ transplantation, stem cell transplantation, blood cancer, HIV, B-cell deficiency | Every year | As recommended | Every 6th year |
| Impaired immune system as a result of other treatment after disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, other cancers) | Individual assessment | ||
| Other diseases after medical assessment by a doctor | With other severe disease after medical assessment | Cochlear implant, spleen deficiency, earlier pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) | |
| Severe obesity | Every year for people with BMI over 40 | As recommended to people with BMI over 35 | - |
| Smoking and harmful use of drugs | - | - | Individual assessment |
Vaccine against seasonal influenza
Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended annually for:
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Everyone over the age of 65 years
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Pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimester
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Other people with special risk factors for a severe influenza disease course
Further information:
Vaccine against pneumococcal disease
Vaccine against pneumococcal disease is recommended every 6 years to:
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Everyone over the age of 65 years
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People with special risk factors for a severe pneumococcal disease course
In addition, other vaccines may be recommended for travel, certain occupations and if you belong to different risk groups.
Vaccine against COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines are offered based on the current recommendations.
Further information:
Vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio
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Adults who have not previously been vaccinated with three doses of vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio should ensure that they receive this (primary vaccination).
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Everyone who has completed primary vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio should receive a booster dose every 10 years.
Vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine)
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All adults who have not previously been vaccinated, or have had measles, should be vaccinated with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. There is no need for a booster vaccine.
Do you need a booster dose?
You can check the vaccines you have been given in Norway at Helsenorge:
The service is based on vaccinations registered in the Norwegian Immunisation Registry SYSVAK at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
