Vaccination against flu and COVID-19

The vaccination is free of charge

The Public Health Agency of Sweden would like to issue the following information:

• People in risk groups are being given priority for vaccination against flu and COVID-19. For people in risk groups, the vaccination is free
  of charge throughout the country.
• It is possible to be vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
• It is likely that both flu and COVID-19 will spread this winter. Vaccination is the best way to protect those who are at an increased risk of becoming seriously ill.
• The vaccine does not provide one hundred percent protection, but it does mitigate the infection if you fall ill even though you have been vaccinated.

Risk groups are being prioritised

The following groups are recommended for vaccination against flu and COVID-19 and are being prioritised for vaccination (in no particular order):

• People aged 65 years or over.
• Pregnant people after the 12th week of pregnancy.
• Adults aged 18 or over with the following diseases, diagnoses or conditions:
  • Chronic cardiovascular disease, including a stroke. For Covid-19, also hypertension.
  • Chronic lung disease, such as COPD, and severe or unstable asthma.
  • Other diagnoses or conditions that impair lung function or the ability to cough (e.g. extreme obesity, neuromuscular disorders or multiple disabilities).
  • Chronic liver or kidney failure.
  • Types 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
  • Conditions that severely weaken the immune system as a result of illness or treatment, including Down’s Syndrome.

Other groups that can be particularly considered for COVID-19 vaccination,
in addition to these defined risk groups, are people who need help with activities in daily life from home care services or similar, as well as people with significantly impaired health for reasons other than the diagnoses above.

Such other reasons may include psychiatric illness or dementia, as well as alcohol or drug abuse.

Vaccination against flu is recommended for the following groups:

• Children between 6 months and 17 years of age with diseases, diagnoses and conditions as described in the above list for adults.
• Household contacts, both children and adults, of people with severely compromised immune systems.
• Staff in health and social care who work closely with patients and care recipients with an increased risk of severe flu, for example in special housing for older people (SÄBO) and in home care services.

The doctor providing treatment may conduct an individual assessment of the need for vaccination.