Vaccination against COVID-19

The Public Health Agency of Sweden has recommended the order in which people should be offered vaccination. For example, the groups first in line for the vaccination are persons living in care homes, people over the age of 65, and healthcare workers.

Everyone aged 18 or older will be offered vaccination.

We recommend that you get vaccinated even if you have had COVID-19.

The vaccination is not recommended for children and young people aged 17 or younger. Vaccination is not recommended if you are pregnant.

Talk to a doctor if you have questions about what applies to you or your child.

Talk to a doctor if you have previously had an allergic reaction to a vaccination, a medicine, or something you had eaten and needed to seek medical attention that same day.

You will receive the vaccine as a needle jab in your arm. You need to get two shots. You get the shots at different times.

You will have some protection from the virus after the first dose of vaccine. You will have good protection against COVID-19 one to two weeks after receiving the second dose.

You have the right to receive information from the healthcare staff when getting the vaccination. If you have any questions, just ask.

You should not get vaccinated if you have a fever or symptoms of COVID-19.

Your arm may feel sore, or you may have a headache or feel tired for the first 24 hours after the vaccination. You may also get the chills or a fever, or have joint and muscle aches.

Any discomfort is usually mild and will go away after a few days.  

If healthcare staff suspect that the vaccine has caused any side effects, they are required to report these to the Swedish Medical Products Agency (in Swedish).

You can also make your own report if you suspect that the vaccine has caused side effects (in Swedish).

The COVID-19 vaccine has undergone the same kinds of thorough checks as other vaccines. Many people have received the vaccine, and researchers have studied its effects.  

Researchers from many different countries have worked together to develop the vaccine. Many countries and companies throughout the world have invested a great deal of money. That is why it was possible to develop the vaccine so quickly.

On the webpage Så fungerar vaccin (How vaccines work), you can read and watch videos about the vaccine (in Swedish).  

You should continue to follow the authorities’ guidelines even after receiving the vaccination (in Swedish).

It takes about one week after receiving the second dose of the vaccine to develop a good level of protection. There is a slight risk of getting the disease even if you are vaccinated.

There is also a small risk of spreading the virus even if you are not sick, for example if you have got it on your hands.

It is not known how long the protection given by the vaccine lasts.