Vaccination
Vaccination against covid-19 protects against serious illness and hospitalization. The Danish Health Authority recommends covid-19 vaccination to adults who have never been vaccinated before against covid-19 and people with an increased risk of a severe course of covid-19.
During the Autumn/winter of 2022/23 the Danish Health Authority has recommended booster-vaccination for people aged 50 years and above and selected target groups. The offer to receive booster-vaccination against covid-19 expired on 1 March 2023.
Some people may still need to be offered a booster-vaccination before an expected vaccination programme starts in autumn 2023. It could for example include patients that have received an organ transplant. They will still have the option of getting a booster-vaccination if the doctor deems it necessary.
It is also still possible for people aged 18 years and above to get vaccinated against covid-19 if they have not previously been vaccinated against covid-19.
The effect of vaccination diminishes over time. In addition, new variants of coronavirus can lead to a decreased level of protection against disease after vaccination. The Danish Health Authority expects to offer booster-vaccination to selected groups again in the autumn 2023. The Danish Health Authority will assess which groups should be offered a coivd-19 booster-vaccination and when.
It is important to follow the infection prevention guidance from the Danish Health Authority in order to prevent covid-19 and other infectious diseases from spreading.
See the guidance here:
Prevent being infected with covid-19
Q & A about vaccination
1. Who is offered vaccination against covid-19?
The vaccination program against covid-19 for the autumn and winter season 2022/23 expired on 1 March 2023. However, it may still be relevant to get vaccinated for some people:
- If you have not previously been vaccinated against covid-19, the Danish Health Authority still recommends that you get vaccinated. This applies to both the 1st and 2nd dose as well as the 1st booster-vaccination. This recommendation applies to all persons above the age of 18.
- It will also still be possible to get an additional booster-vaccination against covid-19 in very special cases, if your doctor recommends vaccination to you. This applies only to a few people, for example people who have received an organ- or bone marrow transplant.
We also expect that we will offer booster-vaccination to selected groups again in autumn 2023.
2. Which types of covid-19 vaccines are used in Denmark?
All covid-19 vaccines used in Denmark are mRNA vaccines approved by The European Medical Agency (EMA).
The Danish Health Authority has offered variant updated mRNA-vaccines in the autumn vaccination programme 2022/23.
3. What side effects do the vaccines have?
The most common side effects after getting a covid-19 vaccine are mild and do not last for long.
The Danish Health Authority considers the vaccines to be very safe and well-documented.
Common side effects include fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, slight increase in temperature and redness and swelling where you have been injected.
In very rare cases, allergic reactions, inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) can occur.
You can find more information at the Danish Medicines Agency
4. How do I get vaccinated?
The autumn booster-vaccination programme 2022/23 has been completed, but if you have not previously been vaccinated against covid-19, you can contact your region or talk to your doctor if you want to get vaccinated.
Your region will also be able to inform you where you can be vaccinated.
You can read more on your region's website:
- The Capital Region of Denmark: www.regionh.dk
- Region Zealand: www.regionsjaelland.dk
- The Region of Southern Denmark: www.regionsyddanmark.dk
- Central Denmark Region: www.rm.dk
- The North Denmark Region: www.rn.dk
5. Should I get vaccinated again?
The Danish Health Authority has decided that no further booster-vaccinations will be offered for the time being. Danish and international research shows that you are well protected against a serious course of covid-19 if you have received a booster-vaccination during the autumn or winter of 2022/23.
The Danish Health Authority continues to monitor the development of covid-19 cases. It is expected that selected groups will be offered vaccination against covid-19 again in autumn 2023, as we expect that the effect of vaccination will decrease over time. The Danish Health Authority will plan the autumn vaccination programme during spring/summer 2023.
6. Does the Danish Health Authority recommend vaccination against covid-19, if you have not been vaccinated yet?
The Danish Health Authority continues to recommend that you get vaccinated if you are 18 years old or above and have not previously been vaccinated against covid-19. This applies to both the 1st and 2nd injection as well as the 1st booster-vaccination.
The importance of vaccination against covid-19 increases with age.
Children and young people only very rarely get a serious course of covid-19 and vaccination only protect to a limited extent against infecting others with the covid-19 variants that are in circulation now. Therefore, we no longer recommend that children between the ages from 5 to 17 get vaccinated. Children and young people who are at increased risk due to illness or a congenital disorder can get vaccinated if their doctor recommends it.
We recommend that you get vaccinated, even if you have previously been infected to take best care of yourself.
7. Should I get vaccinated if I am pregnant?
The booster-vaccination programme against covid-19 for the autumn and winter season 2022/23 has been completed as of 1 March, and this also applies to pregnant women.
The Danish Health Authority continues to recommend that you get vaccinated if you are pregnant and have not previously been vaccinated against covid-19. This applies to both the 1st and 2nd dose as well as the 1st booster-vaccination. Vaccination will help to protect both you as a pregnant woman, but also your unborn child. If you are pregnant and need to get vaccinated for the first time, we recommend vaccination from the 1st trimester.
If you have had the 1st and 2nd dose as well as the 1st booster-vaccination, we do not recommend further covid-19 vaccinations for the time being.
8. Is it possible to purchase a booster-vaccine against covid-19?
Since 15 November 2022, citizens who are not offered a free booster vaccination have been able to purchase a variant updated booster vaccination.
Contact the general practitioners, pharmacies or private providers.
Read more at coronasmitte.dk/vaccination