-Automatic translation
* For all vaccines, the interval between doses used for vaccinations depends on how the interval between doses was in pre-marketing vaccine studies. In general, there is a greater risk of poor response to vaccination if the interval between doses is too short than if it is longer than recommended by the manufacturer.
On the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Iceland
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mRNA vaccine (genetic material in a fat particle, no virus).
The body reads the mRNA and creates a protein that the immune system recognises.
A. Single-component vaccine with mRNA for S-protein of the original variant: Discontinued May 1, 2023
Need to mix if necessary and use all doses from a glass immediately (within 6-12 hours)
Need to gather people together but not very many, suitable for all over the country.
Allergic reactions are more common than with some other vaccines.
It takes 3–6 weeks to complete vaccination, preferably no longer than 12 weeks*
Sometimes, it is necessary to store vaccines to ensure an appropriate interval between vaccinations.
Suitable for use by five years and older (note! different doses 5-11 or 12 years and older).
The first vaccine that arrived in the country. An agreement is in place for continued use in 2022–2023 with an updated vaccine. Used for:
Older people and healthcare workers were the first to receive the vaccination.
Risk groups that were most likely to complete vaccination (e.g. due to delays in treatment to get vaccinated, e.g. cancer treatment, biotech drugs for rheumatism, etc.).
All persons aged 5–17 who choose to receive the vaccination.
No other vaccine was registered for 16–17-year-olds until mass vaccinations ended.
It was decided to use this rather than Moderna's vaccine for 12–15-year-olds, i.a., due to the lower dose of vaccine in Pfizer's vaccine than Moderna's.
No other vaccine with a marketing license for 5-11-year-olds when vaccinations started at the end of 2021-2022.
Pregnant women (see EMA opinion published on 17.2.2022)
Others require primary vaccination, depending on vaccine availability.
Booster vaccinations, regardless of age, until September 2022.
Three versions:
1. Unmixed for ages 12 and up:
7 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available; otherwise, 6.
Needs a special very cold freezer (-80°C) for long-term storage.
Keeps for 10 weeks in the refrigerator (unopened glass)
2. Unmixed for 5-11 years:
12 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available, otherwise 10.
Keeps for 10 weeks in the refrigerator (unopened glass)
3. Premixed for ages 12 and up:
7 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available, otherwise 6.
Keeps for 10 weeks in the refrigerator (unopened glass)
B. Two-component vaccine with mRNA for S-proteins of the original variant and omicron:
7 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available, otherwise 6.
Needs a special very cold freezer (-80°C) for long-term storage.
Keeps for 10 weeks in the refrigerator (unopened glass)
Use additional booster doses from September 2022.
basic vaccination plus booster from 1 May 2023
Two versions:
Original variety (WT) and omicron BA.1 – unmixed, for 12 years and above:
- Discontinued in December 2022 due to a new version.Original variety (WT) and omicron BA.4/5 – pure, for 5 years and above:
- Use started in December 2022.
- Different doses for 5-11 years or 12 years and older.
-Automatic translation
mRNA vaccine (genetic material in a fat particle, no virus).
The body reads the mRNA and creates a protein that the immune system learns to recognize.
A. Single-component vaccine with mRNA for S-protein of the original variant: Decommissioned in November 2022
Must be in the dark during transport and storage.
11 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available, otherwise 10.
Booster vaccination: 20-21 doses in a glass
Comes pre-mixed, but you have to use all the doses from the glass immediately.
Need to gather people together in rather large groups, best suited in urban areas.
Allergic reactions are more common than with some other vaccines.
Takes 4 weeks to complete basic vaccination, preferably no longer than 12 weeks*
Doses may need to be stored to ensure appropriate intervals between vaccinations.
Appropriate according to marketing license to use for 6 months and older. Due to the higher dose of vaccine than Pfizer's vaccine and the higher incidence of side effects, Pfizer's vaccine is more recommended for anyone under 18 years of age.
The incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis is higher in men aged 18–49 than in other age groups and women, especially after the second dose. Therefore, it is recommended to limit the use of the vaccine in this country and elsewhere in October 2021.
May be used by pregnant women, but Pfizer is recommended in this country.
The second vaccine that arrived in the country.
Vaccinations before October 8, 2021:
Healthcare workers and first responders (police etc.) first, mainly in urban areas.
Risk groups most likely to complete vaccination (e.g. due to delays in treatment to achieve vaccination, e.g. biotechnological drug therapy), mainly in urban areas.
Others who need primary vaccination while a vaccine is available, include pregnant women.
Booster vaccinations after Janssen vaccination, third dose for immunocompromised and elderly people in the capital area.
Vaccinated after 12 October 2021:
Booster vaccinations for the immunocompromised and 60 years and older
May be used to complete the vaccination of women aged 18–59 and men aged 40–59 who have received the Moderna vaccine and wish to complete primary vaccination with the same vaccine. Moderna is not currently recommended for men aged 18–39.
Vaccinated after 5 November 2021:
Booster vaccinations for women from the age of 18 and men from the age of 40.
B. Two-component vaccine with mRNA for S-proteins of the original variant and omicrons:
Must be in the dark during transport and storage.
11 servings in a glass if the right equipment is available, otherwise 10.
Comes pre-mixed, but you have to use all the doses from the glass immediately.
Need to gather people together in rather large groups, best suited in urban areas.
Use:
additional and booster doses from September 2022, age restrictions according to A above.
basic vaccination from 1 May 2023, age restrictions according to A above.
Two versions:
Original variant (WT) and omicron BA.1:
- Discontinued in December 2022 due to a new version.Original variant (WT) and omicron BA.4/5:
- Use started in December 2022.
-Automatic translation
A cold virus (adenovirus 26) has been inactivated so that it cannot reproduce and add genetic material for the same protein that we produce after mRNA vaccination.
Transported frozen but can be stored at the vaccination site under the same conditions as vaccines we use daily in healthcare.
5–7 servings per glass.
Must be used within a few hours of opening the bottle but does not need to be mixed and used immediately like the mRNA vaccines.
Can be well suited in rural areas and for individuals who are difficult to reach for revaccination due to residence, work, or other reasons.
Allergy is not as common as with mRNA vaccines.
Blood clots of the same type known from Astra Zeneca vaccines have occurred with millions of doses, but are extremely rare.
A single dose significantly reduced the risk of infection, severe illness, and death from COVID-19 disease from the original virus. Inadequate activity against infection and serious illness with delta and omicron variants. A booster dose with the same vaccine enhances protection in a comparable way to two doses of the other vaccines, but here we recommend an additional dose of mRNA vaccine at least 4 weeks after a Janssen dose, plus a booster dose a few months after a booster dose.
Suitable for use by those aged 18 and over. Appropriate for individuals with risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. Research on the vaccination of children has begun, but contracts for the use of this vaccine have expired and other vaccines will be used for children here.
The fourth vaccine that arrived in the country. Used for:
Risk groups needed vaccination as soon as possible, although this vaccine is not recommended for severely immunocompromised individuals or pregnant women.
Individuals who are uncertain whether they can receive two doses in this country, e.g. persons who work here but have legal domicile abroad or work abroad and have legal domicile here.
18 years and older with a history of COVID-19 disease.
Others need basic vaccination until the vaccine runs out, according to published priority.
As of January 18, 2022, use is primarily limited to those who are allergic to mRNA vaccines, or if a physician recommends an adenovirus vaccine over other vaccines either for primary or booster vaccination.
From September 2022, use in primary vaccination is only recommended due to the contraindications of mRNA vaccines, but booster use is allowed, on medical advice (not as broad-spectrum as mRNA vaccine from September 2022).
-Automatic translation
The S-protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus variant immunoprecipitated with Matrix M immunoprecipitates. A rather traditional vaccine, comparable to the annual flu shots but the vaccine is innovative, derived from the soap tree, and considered possibly less likely to cause allergies than e.g. aluminum alloys.
10 servings in a glass, no need to mix.
Must be used within a few hours of opening the bottle.
Allergy: Frequency unknown.
Suitable for use by ages 12 and up. Appropriate for individuals with risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. May be used for persons allergic to certain ingredients of mRNA vaccines, e.g. PEG but then after receiving the opinion of an allergist.
The fifth vaccine that arrived in the country. Used for:
Primary vaccination of individuals who are allergic to mRNA vaccines or their components, but not known to be allergic to the components of Nuvaxovid.
Primary vaccination of others who do not receive mRNA vaccine and wish to receive a two-dose vaccine.
Booster vaccination for individuals recruited from receiving mRNA vaccine, regardless of which vaccine was used for primary vaccination.
-Automatic translation
A simian cold virus that has been inactivated so that it cannot reproduce and add genetic material for the same protein that we make after mRNA vaccination.
Transported and stored under the same conditions as vaccines we use daily in healthcare.
10-12 servings per glass.
Must be used within a few hours of opening the vial but does not require mixing like the mRNA vaccines.
Can be quite suitable in rural areas, even if quite a few people have to be called for vaccination on the same day.
Allergy is not as common as with mRNA vaccines.
An unusual type of blood clot has been reported as a serious but extremely rare side effect in many European countries (frequency varies by country, 1/23,000–100,000 doses).
No need to store doses to ensure accurate spacing.
It takes 12 weeks to complete vaccination, you can have a shorter interval (down to 4 weeks), but protection is better with a longer interval*.
Registered for ages 18 and up. Efficacy in people aged 65 and over was initially uncertain due to the small number of participants in that age group in pre-marketing studies, but these data are now satisfactory due to studies from the UK. Appropriate for individuals with risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. Changes were made to groups that may receive this vaccine and then repeated due to unusual blood clots (see above). Research on childhood vaccination has begun, but it is unlikely to be used for children in this country in the coming years.
The third vaccine that arrived in the country.
Vaccinations before March 10, 2021:
Workers in nursing homes, aged 18–64.
Risk groups who need to start vaccination as soon as possible but are not on treatment that affects the timing of the second dose, 18–64 years.
Healthcare workers who have not already been vaccinated.
Vaccinated after March 24, 2021:
Individuals are aged 70 and over who have not already been vaccinated (group 6 according to published priority).
We are waiting for data on other low-risk groups, including blood clots to extend vaccination.
Vaccinated after 9 April 2021:
Individuals 60 years of age and older who do not have a history of spontaneous thrombosis or diseases that increase the risk of VTE.
Vaccinated after April 30, 2021:
Women 55 years of age and older do not have a history of spontaneous thrombosis or certain diseases that increase the risk of VTE.
Men who do not have a history of spontaneous thrombosis or certain diseases increase the risk of VTE.
Vaccinated after May 12, 2021:
Women born in 1966 or earlier do not have a history of spontaneous thrombosis or certain diseases that increase the risk of VTE.
Men born in 1981 or earlier do not have a history of spontaneous thrombosis or certain diseases that increase the risk of VTE.
Women born in 1967 or later and men born in 1982 or later who have already received a previous dose can request to complete vaccination with the same vaccine even if it is expected to receive another vaccine instead.
Service provider
Directorate of Health