Dose 3 and refreshment dose 4 to persons with severely weakened immune system
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that patients with severely weakened immune system takes a 3rd dose of covid-19 vaccine, at a minimum of 4 weeks following dose 2. This applies regardless of your age. This dose is considered a part of the basic vaccination program. This group is also offered a 4th vaccine dose as a refreshment dose.
Who does this apply to?
The offer applies to people of all ages with more defined conditions, and people undergo or have recently undergone immunosuppressive treatment. Those who belong to this group will receive information through the GP or specialist health service, or can check the list of relevant medicines on a separate list.
Here you will find an overview of who is recommended to take vaccine 3 and refreshment dose 4 - both which conditions are included, and an overview of which medications this applies to (in Norwegian).
There may also be others with severely compromised immune systems who are not on this list, who should have the vaccine. This will then be an assessment made by the specialist health service.
Refreshment dose (dose 4)
The current recommended interval between dose 3 and refreshment dose (dose 4) is 5 months. However, as of 15 December, the health authorities have allowed the interval between the 3rd dose in the basic vaccination and the refresher dose for this group to be reduced to as little as 3 months.
It is important to be aware of the following: A refreshing dose is an extra dose of vaccine for people who have had the effect of the vaccine doses in the primary vaccination series, but who over time lose part of the protection. To get the best possible effect from a refreshing dose, the immune system needs time to mature. Longer intervals between doses can provide higher and more long-lasting protection. This must be weighed against the need for faster protection at a shorter interval.
If you are sure from this overview that you should have dose 3/dose 4, you do not have to wait for a letter from the health service or contact the vaccine center in advance. However, if you have medical issues related to dose 3, you need to clarify this with your GP or specialist health service.
What kind of documentation do I need to bring to the vaccination?
It is important to have documentation with the vaccine center that shows that you belong to the group that will have the vaccine dose 4. This can be, for example, a letter from the GP or the specialist health service showing that you have one of the conditions / diseases covered by the scheme. If you use one of the medicines in the list referred to above, you can include, for example, a prescription, a medicine pack with your name on it, or something else that shows that you are using this medicine.
Persons who by a responsible medical specialist are considered to have a severely impaired immune system and who are not part of one of the groups mentioned in the link above, must have their own vaccine letter from the specialist health service. In addition, you must bring personal identification.