EXPLAINED: When will I get my Covid-19 vaccination in Sweden?
Each region in Sweden is managing vaccination of its residents, so here is what you need to know.
What is Sweden's priority order for the Covid-19 vaccine?
The order is split into four groups, and within those groups the vaccine is offered to the oldest people first. This order is subject to change, for example based on emerging research about the vaccines. Here's the order as of May 5th:
Phase 1: People who live in care homes for the elderly; people who have at-home care, and people who live with them. People working in healthcare and care facilities who have close contact with people in the above risk groups.
Phase 2: People aged 65-69; people who are on dialysis or are recent transplant recipients and people who live with them; people who receive LSS assistance and are aged over 18.
Phase 3: People aged 60 to 64, and all adults aged 18-59 who either belong to a risk group for Covid-19 or would have particular difficulty following the public health advice (for example people with certain learning difficulties, or people living in socially vulnerable situations such as homeless people).
Phase 4: Other adults aged 18-59, oldest first
When a region begins a new phase, they will often not offer vaccines to everyone in that phase immediately. Usually they will start with the most vulnerable groups (usually the oldest) first.
Who is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination now?
Several Swedish regions have now begun Phase 4, the final phase, but are rolling the vaccine out to this group in several stages with the oldest first.
In the majority of the country's regions, vaccine slots are still limited to people in Phase 3.
Exactly who is eligible depends not only on which category you are in, but also where you live, because the vaccination programme is managed at a regional level.
Are the phases based on birth year or age?
It depends on the region. Some regions are defining the age groups based on how old you are but others base it on your birth year, so that if you were born in 1961 for example but have not yet had your birthday this year, you would still be eligible for vaccination at the same time as people who have already turned 60. The best thing to do is check the details carefully in your region, and ask if it is not clear.
What about healthcare workers?
The Public Health Agency has recommended that people working in healthcare who have regular close contact with vulnerable patients may also be prioritised.
Exactly how this is defined is decided at the regional level, so some regions are only currently vaccinating health workers who work with the most vulnerable groups (people with LSS support or those receiving at-home care for example) but others are opening vaccination to all health workers whose staff involves close patient contact, including dentists for example.
Again, you should check what's happening in your region, contact your employer if you work in healthcare, and be aware that the guidelines may change.
What about other professions requiring close contact with the public?
Professions outside the healthcare sector are not currently covered in any specific way by the national priority order.
How will I know when it's my turn?
In most regions, you will be sent a letter when you are eligible for vaccination, but you should not need this letter to book your slot.
If you belong to certain risk groups, such as being in a Covid-19 risk group, being on dialysis or a recent transplant recipient, you may be called in for your vaccination, but most members of the public need to book a slot themselves, and that means keeping track of how progress is going in your region.
Some regions have also chosen not to contact younger age groups directly, and instead expect individuals to keep themselves updated.
The best way to stay up to date on when the vaccination is being offered in your region is by checking the regional website and the regional 1177 page, as well as following local news. You can find a list of all these websites from the website KrisInformation, which provides information from Swedish authorities on crises, or simply go to 1177.se and choose your region.
Some regions have already shared provisional timetables of when booking will open for people in later phases, but these could change based on changes to vaccine deliveries or any other delays, so try to check those sites regularly.
How do I book my vaccination?
In most regions, booking is done online using 1177.se. Make sure to choose the correct region.
In some regions, you can book online without needing BankID using a digital booking system, but this is not always the case. If you don't have BankID and need to book your vaccination, you should be able to book it either using a regional phone number for vaccination booking, or by contacting your doctor's office directly. We have listed the regional booking options in more detail here.
You cannot book the vaccination by calling 1177 (the general healthcare helpline in Sweden), but if you cannot find information about how to book from any of the sources above, you can call 1177 to ask what you should do. The exception to this is Stockholm, which has added a telephone booking service accessed by calling 1177 and choosing the option '6' -- this is available every day from 8am to 7pm, with Swedish and English language options and more languages to be added soon.
How do I get my second dose?
You will usually be given an appointment for your second dose, or instructions on how you should book it, at the same time as your first dose is administered.
What if I don't have a personnummer?
Not having a Swedish identity number does not affect your eligibility for the vaccine, but it may mean that you don't get contacted when the vaccine is available, if you are not registered at a doctor's office. You should try to keep up to date with the information from your region, and to register with a doctor's office if possible, so that you will know when it's your turn.
I usually have to pay for my healthcare. Does this apply to the vaccine too?
The vaccine should be free for everyone living in Sweden, including students and new arrivals, even people without a personnummer or samordningsnummer.
If you experience problems with booking your Covid-19 vaccine, or have a question that isn't addressed here, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject 'Covid-19 vaccine' and we will do our best to help.
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See Also
What is Sweden's priority order for the Covid-19 vaccine?
The order is split into four groups, and within those groups the vaccine is offered to the oldest people first. This order is subject to change, for example based on emerging research about the vaccines. Here's the order as of May 5th:
Phase 1: People who live in care homes for the elderly; people who have at-home care, and people who live with them. People working in healthcare and care facilities who have close contact with people in the above risk groups.
Phase 2: People aged 65-69; people who are on dialysis or are recent transplant recipients and people who live with them; people who receive LSS assistance and are aged over 18.
Phase 3: People aged 60 to 64, and all adults aged 18-59 who either belong to a risk group for Covid-19 or would have particular difficulty following the public health advice (for example people with certain learning difficulties, or people living in socially vulnerable situations such as homeless people).
Phase 4: Other adults aged 18-59, oldest first
When a region begins a new phase, they will often not offer vaccines to everyone in that phase immediately. Usually they will start with the most vulnerable groups (usually the oldest) first.
Who is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination now?
Several Swedish regions have now begun Phase 4, the final phase, but are rolling the vaccine out to this group in several stages with the oldest first.
In the majority of the country's regions, vaccine slots are still limited to people in Phase 3.
Exactly who is eligible depends not only on which category you are in, but also where you live, because the vaccination programme is managed at a regional level.
Are the phases based on birth year or age?
It depends on the region. Some regions are defining the age groups based on how old you are but others base it on your birth year, so that if you were born in 1961 for example but have not yet had your birthday this year, you would still be eligible for vaccination at the same time as people who have already turned 60. The best thing to do is check the details carefully in your region, and ask if it is not clear.
What about healthcare workers?
The Public Health Agency has recommended that people working in healthcare who have regular close contact with vulnerable patients may also be prioritised.
Exactly how this is defined is decided at the regional level, so some regions are only currently vaccinating health workers who work with the most vulnerable groups (people with LSS support or those receiving at-home care for example) but others are opening vaccination to all health workers whose staff involves close patient contact, including dentists for example.
Again, you should check what's happening in your region, contact your employer if you work in healthcare, and be aware that the guidelines may change.
What about other professions requiring close contact with the public?
Professions outside the healthcare sector are not currently covered in any specific way by the national priority order.
How will I know when it's my turn?
In most regions, you will be sent a letter when you are eligible for vaccination, but you should not need this letter to book your slot.
If you belong to certain risk groups, such as being in a Covid-19 risk group, being on dialysis or a recent transplant recipient, you may be called in for your vaccination, but most members of the public need to book a slot themselves, and that means keeping track of how progress is going in your region.
Some regions have also chosen not to contact younger age groups directly, and instead expect individuals to keep themselves updated.
The best way to stay up to date on when the vaccination is being offered in your region is by checking the regional website and the regional 1177 page, as well as following local news. You can find a list of all these websites from the website KrisInformation, which provides information from Swedish authorities on crises, or simply go to 1177.se and choose your region.
Some regions have already shared provisional timetables of when booking will open for people in later phases, but these could change based on changes to vaccine deliveries or any other delays, so try to check those sites regularly.
How do I book my vaccination?
In most regions, booking is done online using 1177.se. Make sure to choose the correct region.
In some regions, you can book online without needing BankID using a digital booking system, but this is not always the case. If you don't have BankID and need to book your vaccination, you should be able to book it either using a regional phone number for vaccination booking, or by contacting your doctor's office directly. We have listed the regional booking options in more detail here.
You cannot book the vaccination by calling 1177 (the general healthcare helpline in Sweden), but if you cannot find information about how to book from any of the sources above, you can call 1177 to ask what you should do. The exception to this is Stockholm, which has added a telephone booking service accessed by calling 1177 and choosing the option '6' -- this is available every day from 8am to 7pm, with Swedish and English language options and more languages to be added soon.
How do I get my second dose?
You will usually be given an appointment for your second dose, or instructions on how you should book it, at the same time as your first dose is administered.
What if I don't have a personnummer?
Not having a Swedish identity number does not affect your eligibility for the vaccine, but it may mean that you don't get contacted when the vaccine is available, if you are not registered at a doctor's office. You should try to keep up to date with the information from your region, and to register with a doctor's office if possible, so that you will know when it's your turn.
I usually have to pay for my healthcare. Does this apply to the vaccine too?
The vaccine should be free for everyone living in Sweden, including students and new arrivals, even people without a personnummer or samordningsnummer.
If you experience problems with booking your Covid-19 vaccine, or have a question that isn't addressed here, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject 'Covid-19 vaccine' and we will do our best to help.
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