-Automatic translation-

The Chief Epidemiologist therefore recommends that the following groups receive influenza vaccines free of charge in the winter of 2023–2024: (persons vaccinating individuals in these groups can apply to the Chief Epidemiologist for a refund of the vaccine price)

• Employees

  • poultry farms

  • pig farms

  • fur farms

• Regional veterinarians, veterinarians, and specialist veterinarians of MAST who manage the above farms. Also, service veterinarians who carry out tasks for MAST.

• University of Iceland staff at Keldur, who perform animal dissections and work with samples from sick animals in situations where there is a risk of infection (aerosol production).

• Slaughterhouse: Personnel carrying out the transport and killing of poultry, pigs, and fur animals. This does not include personnel working on meat where there is no risk of infection with carcasses due to influenza.

• Employees of the City of Reykjavík who work with birds, pigs, seals, mink, and foxes in the Family and Farm Zoo.

This addition to priority groups is temporary and will be re-evaluated in mid-2024 to see if there is cause to consider these groups as priority groups again in the winter of 2024–2025.

No redistribution of influenza vaccines already allocated is planned because the total number of individuals is not large enough to make this necessary. Individual healthcare centers or companies that provide vaccinations for members of these groups can contact the Chief Epidemiologist if additional allocation of vaccines that have not been allocated before will be required in connection with this change.

The Chief Epidemiologist