Vaccinations in the first year: Schedule, safety, and what to expect

The childhood immunization schedule protects infants against severe, life-threatening infectious diseases during the period of their lives when their immune systems are still developing. In Iceland, the national vaccination program is coordinated by the Directorate of Health (Embætti landlæknis).

Vaccinations are completely free of charge for all children with legal residence in Iceland. Participation is voluntary, but good uptake protects both your baby and vulnerable people in the community.

1. The First-Year Vaccination Schedule in Iceland

Vaccines in the first year are clustered into a small number of well-child visits, combining antigens so your baby receives maximum protection with the fewest possible injections:

• 6 Weeks:
  • Rotavirus (Dose 1 of 3): Given as oral drops swallowed by the baby, protecting against severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration. The first dose must be given at 6–11 weeks of age.
• 3 Months:
  • 5-in-1 Combination Vaccine (Dose 1 of 3): Protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine (Dose 1): Protects against severe ear infections, pneumonia, and pneumococcal meningitis.
  • Rotavirus (Dose 2 of 3)
• 5 Months:
  • 5-in-1 Combination Vaccine (Dose 2)
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine (Dose 2)
  • Rotavirus (Dose 3)
• 12 Months (1 Year):
  • 5-in-1 Combination Vaccine (Dose 3)
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine (Dose 3)
  • Meningococcal Vaccine (ACWY): Protects against meningitis and sepsis caused by meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y.
• Protection against RSV:
  • Babies born during the RSV season (October to March) are offered nirsevimab (Beyfortus) at birth. Babies born outside the season who are under six months old when it starts are offered it too. It is a long-acting antibody that protects against severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection and hospital stays.

(Note: At 18 months, your child is vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.)

2. Normal reactions: What is expected afterwards

It is common for babies to feel slightly unwell for 24 to 48 hours following vaccinations. These reactions show that their immune system is actively responding and building antibodies:

• Mild fever (under 38.5°C / 101.3°F).
• Redness, warmth, or a small, firm pea-sized lump at the injection site on the thigh (which may take a few weeks to completely soften).
• Irritability, clinginess, or extra sleepiness.
• Mild tummy rumbling or slightly looser stools after the oral rotavirus drops.

How to comfort your baby: Offer plenty of feeds, skin-to-skin cuddles, and dress them in loose, comfortable clothing. If your baby is uncomfortable, feverish, or unsettled, consult your clinic nurse about appropriate doses of infant paracetamol.

🚨 Medical Red Flags: When to seek prompt advice

While serious reactions are very rare, contact your health clinic, call 1700, or seek medical care if:

• Your baby develops a fever of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher at under 3 months of age.
• A fever rises above 39.0°C (102.2°F) or persists for more than 48 hours.
• Continuous, unusual high-pitched screaming or inconsolable crying that lasts for several hours.
• Extreme floppiness, abnormal drowsiness, or difficulty waking.
• Emergency signs of a severe allergic reaction (Call 112 immediately): Sudden rash or hives across the body, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.

Missed an appointment? Catching up is simple

If your baby is unwell with a high fever or illness on vaccination day, or if you were traveling, it is completely safe and normal to reschedule. You do not need to restart the vaccine schedule from the beginning; the body remembers previous doses.

Contact your infant health clinic (Ung- og smábarnavernd) to book the next available time.

📞 Tracking Records and Health Contacts in Iceland

• Heilsuvera Digital Portal: You can view your child’s complete digital vaccination history, past doses, and upcoming appointments anytime by logging into Heilsuvera.is with your electronic ID (rafræn skilríki).
• Local Health Clinic: Administered through Ung- og smábarnavernd á heilsugæslunni.
• Health Advisory Line: Call 1700 (24/7) for advice on post-vaccination fever and symptoms.
• Emergency Line: Call 112 for acute allergic reactions or breathing distress.