See a newer post: Additional frequently asked questions about vaccinations

Here we answer common questions about vaccination procedures. Kindly search the answers here before calling or sending an email. 

This page will be updated as needed and we will add additional answers. (Last updated July 12th)

No one will miss out on getting vaccinated and we are working on system solutions to ensure this.

Current topics

What is the vaccination schedule for the next few weeks?

Vaccination schedule - Weeks 26-28

When will AstraZeneca be offered next?
In week 28. That is just for the second dose. (Answer updated July 9)

I was not able to get vaccinated before summer holidays. When will I have a chance to get vaccinated?
Summer holidays end in mid-August. Vaccination arrangements will be made known as soon as such information is available (Question and answer added on June 25).

Confirmed COVID-19 infection, can I get vaccinated?
Those who have been infected with COVID-19 have gotten an invitation for the Janssen vaccine. If you are interested in getting this vaccine, please contact the live chat at heilsuvera.is and request to be put on a list.
When enough people have been listed, this group will be contacted and given the vaccine. No dates have been decided for these vaccinations.  (Answer updated June 25)

When did random vaccination begin in the capital area and how did it work?
On 1 June the first groups were randomly drawn for extra doses and on 7 June the groups were randomly drawn for scheduled doses.
Every week specific women’s and men’s birth-year cohorts are randomly selected to receive SMS invitations to be vaccinated. Those who belong to the relevant groups but did not receive an invitation can also show up and get vaccinated.  

I live in Iceland but am not covered by healthcare insurance. Can I get vaccinated and what does it cost?
Everyone who has an Icelandic social security number (kennitala) can receive a free vaccination with their birth-year cohort (Answer updated June 25)  

I don’t have an Icelandic social security number (kennitala). Can I show up with my birth-year cohort?
You can request that your name is added to the vaccination register. It is really important to include an Icelandic mobile phone number. Either your number or the number of someone close to you.
See: Bólusetning starfsmanna / íbúa af erlendum uppruna gegn COVID-19 sem hafa íslenska kennitölu og þeirra sem ekki hafa íslenska kennitölu (Answer updated June 25). 

Certificate

Where can I get a vaccination certificate?
On My Pages on heilsuvera.is. You need to know your passport number. You can pick up the certificate and print it out immediately after vaccination and the certificate takes effect 7 days after the last vaccine dose. The certificate is in Icelandic and English and is free. 

I don’t have access to My Pages on heilsuvera.is. How do I get my vaccination certificate?
You can use the online chat on heilsuvera.is or contact your health care centre and request that the vaccination certificate be emailed to you. (Question and answer added 9 July). 

How do the electronic certificates work?
The electronic certificates have QR codes which store all the information of the EU Digital COVID Certificate. (Question and answer added 9 July).

International Certificate of Vaccination (the Carte Jaune/Yellow Card)
If a destination requests the “Yellow Card” it can be obtained at health care centres for a fee.  

I received AstraZeneca for my first jab and Pfizer for my second jab. Do I get a vaccination certificate and will other countries recognise it?
Yes, you get a vaccination certificate and it is validated in accordance with the rules of the European vaccination certificate EU Digital COVID Certificate. (Question and answer added 9 July). 

Janssen

Are there any people who are not allowed to receive the Janssen vaccine?
Janssen is only for those who are 18 years old and older. There are no other restrictions.
If it is necessary to receive a vaccination during pregnancy, then there have been more studies on the mRNA vaccines.

I have a label “only mRNA vaccine” in the vaccination system. Why was I offered Janssen?
This is an old label that was introduced at the time due to AstraZeneca. It does not apply to Janssen because everyone older than 18 years of age can get the vaccine, including pregnant women.

The second dose

When is the second dose of Pfizer?
People are usually invited for the second dose of Pfizer three weeks after the first. In order to maximize the efficacy of the vaccine you need at least 19 days between doses and no more than 42 days. The second dose within 6 weeks will do. 

When is the second dose of Moderna?
People are usually invited for the second dose of Moderna four weeks after the first. In order to maximise the efficacy of the vaccine you need at least 25 days between doses and no more than 42 days.

When is the second dose of AstraZeneca?
People are usually invited for the second dose of AstraZeneca 8-12 weeks after the first. If necessary, you can have a shorter period between doses but the protection is better with a longer period between doses. The time between doses must never be shorter than four weeks. It is possible to arrive for vaccination with AstraZeneca before 8 weeks have passed if the second dose must be completed if there is still vaccine available at the end of the day.  AZ is usually given every other week. (Answer updated June 11)

What happens if I miss the second dose of the vaccine within the timeframe?
Get the second dose as soon as you can. That is likely better than not getting the second dose at all, even though full efficacy cannot be guaranteed.  
 
When are young women who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccinated with the second dose of a different vaccine?
All who received the first dose in February received an invitation to get the second dose. Those women born 1967 or later can choose between AZ and Pfizer. They do not need to let us know which vaccine they choose, rather they should arrive on the day that the vaccine they want is being offered. It is preferable for the second dose to be AstraZeneca too if the woman is okay with that. 

I got the first dose abroad, can I get the second dose here in Iceland?
If it is a vaccine that is used in Iceland then it is possible in most cases. You can keep track of the vaccination days and which vaccine is being offered on which day. 
Bring information about the previous jab when it is time for the second dose (Answer updated June 25). 

I have been offered the first dose, can I get the second dose abroad?
We cannot answer that. It depends on your destination. 

Pregnant women

I am pregnant. Should I get vaccinated?
Here in Iceland pregnant women are not included in the high-risk group for COVID-19 infection. Those women who were included in the vaccine priority groups had the option to refuse vaccination on account of pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant women be vaccinated in the second or third trimester and not when organ development is at its peak in the first trimester. In some countries, the policy is to not vaccinate pregnant women. 
The most experience and success is with the use of the mRNA vaccines for pregnant women because these were the first on the market. Until more information is available about the use of the Janssen vaccine on pregnant women, the mRNA vaccines will be used for pregnant women here in Iceland (Question and answer added 5 May). 

Lists and invitations

I have a gender-neutral gender registration. When will I get an invite to be vaccinated?
Those who are registered as gender-neutral can choose to be vaccinated with either gender group for their birth year, regardless of whether or not they receive an invitation. 
Gender is not recorded in the vaccination system. When women under the age of 55 were not allowed to receive AstraZeneca, a label was added to women in the system. This label is now used to divide birth-year cohorts in two, because then the number in each group is known. To increase random distribution, we cannot invite an entire birth-year cohort at once. In the medical record system and on Heilsuvera gender registration is in accordance with Registers Iceland (þjóðskrá).

I don’t have a smartphone and can’t open the barcode?
Give your Icelandic social security number (kennitala) at the vaccination location and you will be located in the vaccination system. 

I can’t come at the scheduled time. Can I come earlier or later on the same day?
Yes, you can come at another time on the same day if you must. Make sure to come earlier rather than later, because later in the day others will be invited to replace those who did not show up earlier. 

I received an invitation in Reykjavík but I am in the countryside. Can I get vaccinated where I’m staying?
Sometimes that is possible but you need to check with the local health centre because often there are not many doses to change in smaller locations. 

I live in the countryside but will be in Reykjavík on a vaccination day. Can I show up there?
Most often you can get vaccinated in Reykjavík if the vaccine you received an invitation for is being used. 

I am abroad and received an invitation. Can I get vaccinated when I return to Iceland?
Yes, you can show up when the vaccine you received an invitation for will be used. You do not need to let us know about the absence. 

Where can I check if I'm on a priority list? I have a disease that should put me first but I have not received an invitation?
All those on priority lists due to risk factors have received a vaccination invitation. Your health care centre can check your status and request that you be included in a priority group if there is a reason to do so. It can take several weeks and now we hope that everyone will receive an invitation in the coming weeks regardless of priority. It therefore makes little to no difference to be placed on a priority list at this point. . 

12 to 15 year old children with underlying conditions, when will they be vaccinated?
We are vaccinating that group and are almost finished with that group (Answer updated June 25).

SMS invitation
Note that at the beginning of the SMS invite for vaccination is the first name of the person the invite is addressed to. No one else can use it. 

I don’t know whom my phone number is registered to and I’m worried that I won’t get an SMS?
You can contact your phone company and find out quickly.

No invitation or missed invitation 

I haven’t received an invitation even though my birth-year cohort has?
It is no longer an option to get a first dose of vaccine before summer holidays. First doses will be available again after summer holidays, in mid-August. 
It is possible to request to get vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine at the live chat at heilsuvera.is (Answer updated June 25).

I am a new health care worker and everyone at my workplace got vaccinated before I started working?
Your employer will advise you about this. 

I received an invitation that I couldn’t use. What should I do next?
You can show up when the vaccine you were offered is being used. 
 
Does one receive a new invitation if one does not show up when one receives an invitation?
No, usually not but you can show up when the vaccine you were offered is being used.

Is it possible to be on a list to get leftover vaccines at the end of the day? 
No, at the end of the day, those who are next on the agreed upon invitation list are offered a vaccine.