This Year’s Influenza Vaccine – 2024

The influenza vaccine is now available at Aker Care. Please see table below for details per location/company:

It is recommended to take the vaccine during October/November and no later than December. Full protection is achieved after one to two weeks. The flu vaccine is very effective and reduces the risk of developing influenza by 60% on average (FHI). When many people are vaccinated, the infection rate drops, and the chance of being infected is further reduced. The vaccine also contributes to a milder course of the disease for people in the risk groups.

Risk groups who are recommended to get vaccinated:

• People 65 years or older
• People with chronic lung diseases (including asthma), heart/vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus (both type 1 and type 2), kidney failure, liver failure, chronic neurological disease or injury, or other serious and/or chronic disease where influenza poses a serious health risk.
• People with a weakened immune system as a result of illness or treatment of illness (e.g. organ transplant recipients, cancer, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and other illnesses).
• People with severe obesity (BMI> 40).
• Pregnant after week 12 (2nd and 3rd trimester). Pregnant women in the 1st trimester with other additional risks should also be offered the vaccine after consultation/approval from a doctor.

If you are in a risk group and have had severe allergic reactions, you must contact your GP for vaccination.

Note: The vaccine is free of charge for permanent employees, externals/hired-ins will be charged 430,-  NOK for the vaccine.

Brief facts about the influenza vaccine:
The influenza virus is constantly changing, and the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine decreases over time. For this reason, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) recommends receiving the vaccine annually. The influenza vaccine has been used for many years and generally causes few side effects. Like other vaccines, it may cause mild discomfort, occasional fever, and soreness at the injection site.