The influenza vaccine protects you against seasonal influenza and is offered every autumn in Norway. Risk groups such as older adults, pregnant women, and the chronically ill pay a low price, while others pay the full amount.

Every winter, influenza causes much illness in Norway. Most people get only slightly ill, but for some the disease can become serious or lead to hospitalization. You can read more about causes of death and public health in Norway to understand why vaccination is important for society as a whole.

This article is about the influenza vaccine for adults and risk groups. Vaccine for children is usually part of the child vaccination program, which is a separate free offer for all children in Norway.

What is the influenza vaccine?

The influenza vaccine is an annual vaccine that protects against the most common influenza viruses in the coming season. The virus changes slightly each year, so researchers develop a new vaccine each season based on which virus variants are expected to spread.

The Public Health Institute (FHI) is the Norwegian agency that monitors infectious diseases and provides vaccination recommendations. FHI selects which virus strains the vaccine should protect against, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine is given as an injection in the upper arm, and you usually need only one dose per season.

Who should get the influenza vaccine?

FHI recommends the influenza vaccine for groups with higher risk of serious illness or complications. These risk groups are:

  • All people over 65 years old
  • Pregnant women, from week 12 of pregnancy
  • People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart and cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease (such as asthma or COPD), chronic liver or kidney failure, or chronic neurological disease
  • People with weakened immune systems, and those living with someone in this group
  • Nursing home residents and residents of other care facilities
  • Healthcare workers with patient contact, since they can easily spread infection to vulnerable patients

Are you unsure whether you belong to a risk group? Ask your GP, or check the overview on helsenorge.no. You can also get the vaccine even if you are not in a risk group — it provides good protection against an unpleasant disease, but then you pay the full price.

When can you get the influenza vaccine?

The vaccination season usually starts at the beginning of October and lasts until December. The best time is early in the season, since it takes 10 to 14 days before the vaccine provides full protection.

Influenza spreads most in the winter months, typically from December to March, so it pays not to wait too long. If you have nevertheless missed the autumn offer, many places can still offer the vaccine later in the winter, as long as there is stock available.

What does the influenza vaccine cost?

The price depends on whether you are in a risk group or not. In the 2025/2026 season, the vaccine cost 101 kroner for risk groups, plus about 200 kroner in fees for administering it — a total of approximately 301 kroner (check current price for autumn 2026, since the amount can change from year to year).

People outside risk groups usually pay more, since they do not get the same discounted price. Full price is often a few hundred kroner, depending on where you get the vaccine — the price at pharmacies can vary somewhat from pharmacy to pharmacy. Some employers and municipalities cover all or part of the cost, especially for healthcare workers who have close contact with patients.

Where can you get the vaccine?

You can get the influenza vaccine in several places. Your GP offers the vaccine, and so does your municipality, often through special vaccination days designed for older adults and risk groups. Many pharmacies administer the influenza vaccine without an appointment throughout the vaccination season, and some workplaces offer it free or at a reduced price for employees.

You can check previous vaccines and find information about the offer in your area via the Helsenorge app. You will also get reminders when it is getting close to your turn, and you can see which vaccines you have already had recorded.

Is the influenza vaccine safe?

Yes. The influenza vaccine is well-tested and used by millions of people in many countries every year. You cannot get sick with influenza from the vaccine itself, since it does not contain live virus that can infect you with influenza.

The most common side effects are mild and go away on their own, such as some soreness where you got the injection, mild headache, or feeling a bit tired for a day or two. Serious side effects are very rare. Talk to your GP if you are unsure, for example if you have had a strong allergic reaction before.

Pneumococcal vaccine and corona vaccine at the same time

Many in risk groups are also recommended pneumococcal vaccine. It protects against a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, blood poisoning, and meningitis — diseases that can hit hard, especially in older adults and the chronically ill. This vaccine is given less frequently than the influenza vaccine, often only once, or with several years between doses.

FHI also recommends an annual corona vaccine for many of the same risk groups in autumn, as part of the so-called adult vaccination program. The influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and corona vaccine can usually be given at the same time, preferably at the same visit to your GP or pharmacy. Talk to healthcare workers about what works best for your specific situation.

Why is this useful to know as a newcomer to Norway?

Understanding the Norwegian healthcare system is part of getting to know the society you live in. The GP system, vaccination programs, and public health services are topics that often come up on the citizenship test. SamfunnPrep helps you practice such questions about health and rights, explained in simple language that is easy to understand, so you feel more confident before taking the real test.

With SamfunnPrep you practice at your own pace, and you can follow your progress as you go. Many SamfunnPrep users say that practicing makes them calmer before the real test. Try for free and see how well you already know the healthcare system and society in Norway today.