Diseases are not distributed evenly around the world. They can be endemic in certain countries or emerge unexpectedly. Vaccinations are available for certain diseases. Whether it is advisable to get vaccinated before traveling depends on five factors:
- Where you are traveling
- What you will be doing during your trip
- What time of year you are traveling
- How long you will be staying there
- What vaccinations you have received before
Those who travel to countries outside these areas should consult with healthcare staff 2 to 3 months before starting a trip to assess whether there is a reason for vaccinations.
On the website of the World Health Organization, you can find detailed information about the spread of the diseases that can be vaccinated against.
There is also a user-friendly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website that travellers can browse and enter relevant information to find out what vaccinations are needed.
Individuals pay for vaccinations themselves. You can see the tariff for vaccines (in Icelandic).
On Heilsuvera's live chat, you can get advice on the vaccinations you need if you plan to travel. Select advice and vaccination for travellers in the chat, and then standard questions will appear about the upcoming trip. Once all the information has been provided, the vaccination plan will appear on My pages in Heilsuvera within ten working days at the latest. A notification is sent when the plan is ready. When making the vaccination plan, previous vaccinations and length of stay are taken into consideration, among other things.
Once you have received your vaccination plan, you can call your health centre and make an appointment with a nurse or come to the Vaccination Centre at Þönglabakki 1, 109 Reykjavik (second floor) to receive the recommended vaccinations. It is open from Monday to Friday from 9AM to 3PM, and it is not necessary to make an appointment for these vaccinations. The opening hours can change during the summer.
Make sure to follow the stock status of vaccines through this website "Stock status of vaccines" or by calling 513-1700.