Influenza vaccination programme

Influenza vaccination is offered to people who are considered to be at risk of becoming seriously ill from influenza. Influenza is a viral infection that can infect everyone, and which most frequently occurs during the winter season. For some people, the illness can be very serious and become life-threatening, and the course of the illness can become more severe if you have COVID-19 and influenza at the same time.

The influenza vaccine is free and voluntary.

See the vaccination plan here.

The following groups will be offered influenza vaccination:

  • People who have turned 65 years before the 15th of January 2023
  • Early retirees
  • People at a higher risk under the age of 65:
    • Chronic lung disease
    • Chronic heart disease
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Congenital or acquired immune deficiency
    • Affected respiration e.g. due to reduced muscle strength
    • Chronic liver or kidney disease
    • Heavily overweight (BMI >40)
    • Children and adults with severe diseases
    • Household members of children or adults with severe diseases
    • Pregnant women in the second and third trimester
    • Household members of severely immunosuppressed
    • Frontline employees in the healthcare system or the care sector, who works with care or treatment of citizens at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from influenza

The individual will be medically assessed to decide whether he or she meets the criteria for the vaccination programme.

In Greenland, we use the influenza vaccine Fluenz Tetra®, which is a live attenuated vaccine.

The vaccination against influenza for children is given as a nasal spray, which is sprayed in both nostrils.

The vaccine is contra-indicated for some patient groups and immunosuppressant children. Siblings of immunosuppressant children should not be vaccinated with a live attenuated vaccine due to the potential risk of infecting the immunosuppressant child.

Children aged 2 to 6 years are offered two vaccinations, with an interval of at least four weeks.

If the child was previously vaccinated against influenza, the child will only be given a single vaccination.

The vaccination against influenza for children is given as a nasal spray, which is sprayed in both nostrils.

Very common (> 10 %)

Stomach-bowel irritation
Fatigue, discomfort
Reactions and discomfort at the injection site
Reduced appetite
Muscle pain
Headache
Drowsiness, irritability

Common (1 – 10%)

Diarrhoea, vomiting
Fever, chills
Joint pain
Flushes

Last updated