Nursing homes in Oslo are preparing to start corona vaccinations of the elderly

When the COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Norway, the nursing homes will be ready to start the vaccination, the Nursing Homes Agency in Oslo promises.

“We are ready to start vaccinating residents of the first nursing homes as soon as we receive the vaccine,” agency director Helge Jagmann said.

Friday night, the logistics work was in full swing.

Obtaining consent

“We have started the work of mapping out who wants the vaccine and obtaining the necessary consents. 

“We are now developing new procedures and making plans for efficient logistics, and employees will start training next week on the actual vaccination process,” Jagmann added.

“We have good routines and follow-up when it comes to vaccination in general, as well as experience with organizing mass vaccination of both employees and residents,” he noted.

According to the health authorities, the vaccines will first reach the Oslo area. 

The first vaccines are expected during Christmas, probably on December 27. 

It will probably take a week to get all the residents vaccinated, news bureau NTB believes.

High-risk group

The 68 nursing homes and four health centers in Oslo have a total of around 4,100 residents and about 10,000 employees. 

Nursing home residents are the group with the highest risk of serious illness and death if they become infected with the coronavirus. 

Currently, three residents and 26 employees are infected, while 55 employees are quarantined.

It is not yet clear which nursing home will receive the vaccine first.

By protecting as many people as possible with vaccines, the risk of infection is reduced, as well as the burden on employees, the Nursing Homes Agency stated.

Everyone who receives the corona vaccine must be revaccinated after three weeks. 

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today