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VACCINE

Denmark announces timeline for end of most Covid-19 restrictions

The Danish government has announced a gradual timeline for lifting coronavirus restrictions and said it planned for the majority of restrictions to be lifted once all people over 50 have been vaccinated against the virus.

Published: 23 March 2021 09:47 CET
Denmark announces timeline for end of most Covid-19 restrictions
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and other party leaders on Monday. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

The plan was presented by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and front figures from the other political parties after a deal was agreed late on Monday night.

Businesses, schools and sports and culture will be able to reopen at various points throughout April and May under the deal, with vaccine passports required to use services in a number of instances.

The agreement text sets out a fixed point for ending restrictions “when the oldest and vulnerable citizens and citizens over 50 years old have been vaccinated with the first dose, if they want it”.

That point will signal the end of most restrictions, although some will remain including those “in relation to events which carry a risk of superspreading, including large events and nightlife, travel restrictions and general measures to reduce infections,” the agreement states.

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“We have agreed that it is a very, very important fixed point when everyone over 50 years has been vaccinated. This is however dependent on us being able to keep infections down and use vaccine passports,” Frederiksen said.

The use of vaccine passports means that documentation of either vaccination, a recent negative test, or recent (no longer active) infection will be required to use some services including hairdressers, tattoo artists and massage parlours, according to broadcaster DR’s report on the agreement.

The only party not to back the reopening plan, the far-right Nye Borgerlige (New Right), has cited use of vaccine passports as the reason it would not support the agreement.

The timescale set out by the plan is summarised below.

  • April 6th: Further relaxation of school closures and opening of service industries such as hairdresser, although vaccine passports will be required to use them.
  • April 21st: Larger shopping malls allowed to open. Cultural facilities such as museums, art galleries and libraries allowed to open, vaccine passports in effect. Restaurants allowed to serve outside.
  • May 6th: Concert venues, theatres and cinemas allowed to open; restaurants permitted to operate indoor services.
  • May 21st: Evening schools and other auxiliary education can reopen; all sports facilities allowed to reopen.

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COVID-19

Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

It is still free to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Denmark if you are over the age of 65 or have a health condition, with the health authorities now running Covid and flu vaccinations together. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 26 October 2023 11:10 CEST
Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

Who is being offered a vaccine for Covid-19 or flu this autumn? 

According to the information on the Danish Health Authority’s website, Covid-19 and flu vaccines are being offered to: 

  • People over the age of 65
  • People under the age of 65 who have a health condition which puts them at increased risk. You can find a list of the long-term health conditions deemed a risk here. 
  • Pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

Children between 2 and 6 years of age are being offered a special flu vaccine for children, which is administered as a nose spray, but not the Covid vaccine (unless they fit one of the categories above). 

Those who have retired early, for whatever reason, are also being offered the flu vaccine but not a Covid-19 vaccine.  

People over the age of 65 and the parents of children between the ages of 2 and 6 will automatically receive an invitation to get vaccinated though their digital postbox at borger.dk, e-Boks and mit.dk.

People in the other eligible categories will not receive an invitation. 

If you have not yet received an invitation, do not worry, as invitations are being staggered over October and the start of November.  

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When and where can I get vaccinated? 

This year’s autumn vaccination campaign started on October 1st and will continue until January 15th. 

You can get vaccinated at one of over 50 regional vaccination sites all over Denmark, or at the over 280 local pharmacies which are signed up to be part of the programme. 

Residents of care homes for the elderly and others in need will be offered vaccinated at their home.

You can log in and book an appointment at your nearest centre or pharmacy at Denmark’s official vaccination website www.vacciner.dk.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time? 

The Danish Health Authority has judged that it is safe to receive vaccines against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time, but the two vaccines cannot be mixed in the same syringe, so you will receive two separate injections. 

Is vaccination compulsory? 

No. Although the strongly recommends everyone in the various risk categories to get vaccinated, it is up to every individual whether to do so. 

Is it possible to get vaccinated even if I am not over 65 or in a risk group? 

It is no longer possible to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or flu through Denmark’s national vaccination programme if you are not in one of the recommended categories, after the country’s health authorities stopped offering paid vaccinations.  

But it remains possible to get vaccinated at a private vaccination centre, such as the SikkerRejse chain found in most Danish towns. The chain, which has a waiting list, offers doses of the latest Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine for a total price of 995 kroner. 

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