The adult vaccination programme offers a pneumococcal vaccine if you turn 65 in 2026. If you were born in 1960 and have not used the offer, you keep your entitlement. Other older people and risk groups may also be advised to get vaccinated, but do not automatically get the same price.
Who gets a pneumococcal vaccine through the programme in 2026?
In 2026, the age-based offer covers people born in 1961 and people born in 1960 who have not yet used it. Your entitlement does not disappear because you waited beyond the year you turned 65.
This follows information from Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI), the national public health body responsible for vaccination guidance among other tasks. FHI's adult vaccination programme handbook describes the 2026/2027 season. This guide's information was checked on 4 October 2026.
The programme is a public scheme offering particular vaccines to particular groups. The vaccines do not all have one common age limit. SamfunnPrep's guide to the flu vaccine in Norway covers influenza. This guide focuses on the pneumococcal vaccine and how to find the right offer.
Pneumococci are bacteria that can cause conditions including pneumonia, blood poisoning and meningitis. The pneumococcal vaccine is therefore different from the flu or coronavirus vaccine.
Is a recommendation the same as entitlement to the programme price?
No. A medical recommendation does not automatically mean you get the vaccine through this age-based offer. Your birth year, health and the scheme you use can all matter.
| Situation in 2026 | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Born in 1961 | Book through your municipality's adult vaccination programme offer. |
| Born in 1960, offer not used | Ask the municipality about using the entitlement you still have. |
| Born before 1960 | Vaccination may be recommended, but this age-based offer does not cover you. |
| Younger person with illness or increased risk | Ask your doctor to assess your vaccination needs and possible other coverage. |
Helsenorge's pneumococcal vaccine information recommends the vaccine from age 65. It may also be recommended for conditions including reduced immunity, chronic lung disease and diabetes. The list of conditions extends beyond these examples.
Do not decide your risk group just from the name of a condition. Explain your health and medicines to your doctor. Ask them to distinguish between the need for vaccination and who pays.
How much does the vaccine cost?
The recommended programme co-payment is 110 kroner when the pneumococcal vaccine is given alone, or 85 kroner with simultaneous vaccination. The municipality sets the local rate, so confirm the total price before your appointment.
The amounts follow FHI's guidance for the 2026/2027 season, checked on 4 October 2026. Simultaneous vaccination means the vaccine is given at the same time and place as another vaccine in the programme.
The recommended price covers the vaccine and its administration. It does not mean a flu vaccine is also included in the same amount. Ask for the total price if you will have several vaccines.
Outside the programme, many people pay more. Certain risk groups can have the vaccine covered on a blue prescription. Blå resept, or blue prescription, is a scheme for public coverage of particular medicines and products. Your doctor must clarify whether you meet its conditions.
Also ask whether the provider actually participates in the municipality's offer. You may pay more if you book a private service yourself, even if you are the right age.
How do you book the right offer?
Start on the municipality's website or contact your regular GP, and say you want to clarify pneumococcal vaccination in the adult vaccination programme. The municipality must ensure that people covered by the programme get an offer.
Before booking:
- Find your birth year and information about previous vaccines.
- Search for vaccination on the municipality's website.
- Check where it offers pneumococcal vaccination.
- Ask whether the appointment is through the programme or a private offer.
- Confirm the price and whether you need a separate doctor's appointment first.
A normal flu vaccination booking does not necessarily include a pneumococcal vaccine appointment. Mention both vaccines if you want to ask about having them together.
If your GP does not provide vaccinations, ask about the municipality's alternative. Do not assume there is no offer because your practice does not give the vaccine. Helsenorge also lists GP practices, vaccination clinics and pharmacies as possible providers outside the programme.
Must you wait until autumn or for a reminder?
The pneumococcal vaccine can be given throughout the year. You do not need to wait for a notification before contacting the municipality. The autumn offer may still be convenient if you are also getting another vaccine.
FHI describes digital reminders for selected age groups. Notifications use registered vaccination information. They tell you about the offer; they are neither a booked appointment nor an individual doctor's assessment.
Even if you have no notification, check your birth year and the municipality's information. Ask the vaccination provider about earlier vaccines if you are uncertain. This is better than treating a missing notification as a refusal.
What if you were vaccinated earlier or abroad?
Show documentation of previous vaccinations before getting another dose. The need for a new vaccine depends, among other things, on which pneumococcal vaccine you had and when.
Find the vaccine name and date if possible. A general vaccination card without the name can be difficult to use. Your doctor or vaccination provider must assess the documentation and appropriate timing.
You can see registered vaccinations on Helsenorge. Information from abroad may not appear there. SamfunnPrep explains vaccines received abroad and registration in SYSVAK. SYSVAK is Norway's vaccination register.
Do not book an extra dose just to have something registered digitally. Bring your documentation and ask for an assessment first.
What should you ask at the vaccination appointment?
Ask the provider to explain which vaccine you are getting, the price and how the dose is registered. Tell them about previous vaccinations and relevant health conditions before the injection.
You can use this short list:
- Is this the vaccine in the adult vaccination programme?
- What is the total price for this appointment?
- Do earlier vaccines affect the timing?
- Can the relevant vaccines be given together?
- How do I get documentation afterwards?
Ask for a plain-language explanation if a word is unclear. After the appointment, keep the vaccine name and date. If the dose later fails to appear on Helsenorge, contact the provider who vaccinated you.
SamfunnPrep's tools and guides provide more explanations to help you keep track of Norwegian services and your next steps.
