Vaccination in Estonia

The immunoprophylaxis expert committee recommends administering an additional shot to adults (18+) when three months have passed since the completion of the initial course of vaccinations with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna vaccines, and two months with the Janssen vaccine. Check from the Patient Portal digilugu.ee when the correct time is for you to go get a booster dose and book an appointment, or just show up at a vaccination point where you can get vaccinated without prior registration.

For people with immunodeficiency, the booster dose means a fourth shot. People with immunodeficiency should consult their immunologist about the necessity of a booster dose.

The booster doses are administered with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty or the Moderna vaccine Spikevax regardless of what vaccine used in Estonia the person completed their course of vaccinations with earlier. In exceptional cases (for instance, an allergic reaction to the mRNA vaccine) it is also possible to use the Janssen vaccine for a booster dose. The maximum protection from the booster dose develops within two weeks of receiving the shot.

Those who have received a complementary dose (including an additional dose and a booster dose) have the same rights as people who have completed the course of vaccinations. In Estonia, the certificate is valid for a year after the so-called third shot. Read about creating COVID certificates after an additional dose .

Do I need to receive an additional shot if I have recovered from COVID-19 or have recovered and gotten vaccinated?

The immunoprophylaxis expert committee recommends that adults who have recovered from COVID-19 or have recovered and gotten vaccinated receive a booster dose five months after the last dose of the vaccine or recovery.

The recommended time of the booster dose can be calculated with the aid of the corona protection calculator: vaktsineeri.ee (in Estonian).

What are the most common side effects of a booster dose or a third shot?

The post-vaccination reactions are similar to the side effects of the second dose. Most of them are localised side effects, mild in their nature and pass within a few days. According to the current data they have occurred somewhat more frequently than after a second dose.

Last updated: 04.01.2022 22:25

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The choice for the booster dose is between the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty and the Moderna vaccine Spikevax, regardless of which vaccine was used for the initial course of vaccinations.

If you were previously vaccinated with Pfizer/BioNTech, you can still do your booster dose with the Moderna vaccine and vice versa. Studies thus far have shown that mixing the vaccines gives an even stronger immune response than doing the booster dose with the same vaccine. A study conducted in the United Kingdom regarding mixing the COVID-19 vaccines showed that a person achieved a better immune response when their first dose was administered with the AstraZeneca or the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was succeeded by a dose of the Moderna vaccine nine weeks later.

Last updated: 09.12.2021 14:14

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The immunoprophylaxis expert committee recommends that adults who have recovered from COVID-19 or have recovered and gotten vaccinated do a booster dose five months after the last dose of the vaccine or recovery.

You should have a booster dose five months after recovery if:

• you have recovered from the coronavirus but have not been vaccinated yet;
• you got infected with the coronavirus more than two weeks after beginning the initial course of vaccinations;
• you got infected with the coronavirus after completing the course of vaccinations.

If you have recovered from the coronavirus and been vaccinated subsequently (or you got infected less than two weeks after the initial dose of the vaccine), you should have a booster dose five months after receiving the last dose of the vaccine.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 can have booster doses without prior registration at vaccination locations, by booking an appointment at the family doctor, or by contacting the vaccination location directly in some other way. Currently it is not possible for people who have recovered from the coronavirus to book appointments for booster doses at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee -- the solution is being developed and will be ready in the near future.

Last updated: 04.01.2022 22:19

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No COVID certificate automatically renews itself after getting the so-called third shot, i.e. an additional or a booster dose. After an additional dose, you can create the new certificate yourself at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee and start using it.

After vaccination with a booster dose the vaccination certificate stays valid indefinitely, regardless of the number of booster doses received.

Important! If the additional dose is your second dose (e.g. you have previously been vaccinated with Janssen or have recovered from COVID-19 and received one dose of the vaccine) and you have created your certificate before February 1, 2022:

Create a new immunisation certificate at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee in order to receive a reference to the booster dose to it. If you do not renew your certificate, the checking applications could mistakenly consider the validity period of the certificate with the 2/2 marking to be nine months instead of a year. The booster dose will be marked as 2/1 on the renewed certificate.

The people who have to renew their certificates are those who have received:

• two single dose vaccines (e.g. one dose of Janssen + a booster dose)
• one dose of vaccine, recovered from the disease and then received a booster dose

How to renew the certificate?

1. Log into the Patient Portal digilugu.ee with an ID card, Mobile ID or Smart ID
2. Press the green button "EU digital COVID certificates" on the left
3. Press the button "Start the creation of an EU digital COVID certificate"
4. Choose a certificate from the drop down menu on the page (EU digital COVID vaccination certificate) and push the button "Continue"
5. Save or print the certificate. An expired certificate will be automatically replaced in Digilugu.

Using the additional and booster doses in other countries:

• We recommend to initially take along both your previous and your new vaccination certificate when you go on a trip, as, depending on the country, a maximum protection waiting period of up to 14 days might apply after a third dose (even if this is a third dose). The old certificate does not become invalid when a new one is created but if you have created the certificate before October 20, 2021, we recommend creating and downloading that one again as well to make sure that foreign checking applications do not show an error notification.
• Before going on a trip, make sure that your certificate meets the requirements of the destination and transit countries by using the Estonian checking application (after checking your certificate for the first time you can make sure that the certificate meets the requirements of other countries) and find out about other restrictions in force there as well. You can find the information from the web pages reisitargalt.vm.ee (in Estonian) and reopen.europa.eu.

Last updated: 13.02.2023 01:19

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A course does not have to be restarted even if a booster dose is administered later than the recommended interval (two to three months, depending on the vaccine manufacturer), one shot is sufficient.

The same logic also extends to the COVID certificate: for instance, if a person has completed the two-dose course of vaccinations (noted as 2/2 on the certificate), he will still get a three out of three (3/3) certificate, even if he receives the third shot later.

Last updated: 07.01.2022 13:44

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You can find all vaccination points at https://vaktsineeri.ee/en/covid-19/vaccination-points/.

A vaccination appointment can be booked:

• at the digital registry at http://www.digilugu.ee
• at a pharmacy: find a pharmacy closest to you and book an appointment at the web page vaktsineeriapteegis.ee (in Estonian)
• by calling the registry of the local hospital or medical institution.

It is also possible to get immunised without prior registration in vaccination buses and vaccination points. You can find all the options in different towns and counties from the web page vaktsineeri.ee -- locations that have no prior booking requirement have a green label "without registration".

The location of vaccination is not connected to a person's official place of residence: everyone can book an appointment and go to get vaccinated in an area suitable to them all across Estonia. A booking for a minor must be done by his legal representative.

In addition to hospitals and private health care service providers it is possible to get vaccinated at schools (more information: vaktsineeri.ee (in Estonian). The elderly and people in risk groups also continue to be vaccinated by family doctors.

Make certain to be on time for your vaccination appointment or let the vaccinating institution know at first chance if you will not be able to go to your agreed upon vaccination for some reason.

If you need further counselling on COVID-19 vaccinations, we recommend that you consult with your family doctor or call the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 or 634 66 30. The calls are answered by medical professionals 24/7. Advice is given in Estonian and Russian (advice in English every day between 15.00 and 17.00).

Last updated: 21.03.2023 11:56

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Yes, it is possible to do both the second and the additional dose (the so-called third shot) in Estonia, if the course of vaccinations was started with a vaccine that has a marketing authorisation of the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty, Moderna's Spikevax, Janssen's Jcovden, AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria, and Novavax's Nuvaxovid) and the person has a reliable certificate proving prior vaccination.

The certificate has to contain at least the following in a clear and understandable manner:

• who was vaccinated (name, last name, personal identification code or passport number);
• what disease was vaccinated against;
• the name of the vaccine (names, if this applies to a combined scheme);
• how many doses were administered;
• when each dose was administered;
• who vaccinated (the logo of the institution/the stamp of the health care service provider, name etc).

After vaccination it is also possible to create an EU COVID vaccination certificate at the Patient Portal.

You can find information about different vaccination opportunities at the web page vaktsineeri.ee.

Last updated: 06.05.2022 16:24

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Employers can use the Estonian Health Insurance Fund both to get information about the vaccination rate among the employees in their organisation and to invite vaccinators and counsellors to come to the spot:

1. It is possible to ask the Estonian Health Insurance Fund about vaccination coverage among one's employees. Information is issued to organisations that have at least 30 employees. In order to get the information, write to vaktsineerimine@haigekassa.ee.
2. An employer can invite vaccinators to come to them if at least five persons want to get vaccinated. In order to agree upon a vaccination, write to vaktsineerimine@haigekassa.ee.
3. It is possible to invite an expert lecturer (doctors, nurses, medical students who have passed the immunology course and the elective course on vaccination) to the company to give an overview of the vaccines and answer questions. The service is paid for by the Health Insurance Fund. Apply for this by writing to vaktsineerimine@haigekassa.ee. Inviting a lecturer does not bring any costs to the employer but there should be at least five people who are interested.

What does a meeting with a vaccination expert lecturer look like?

A meeting with an expert lecturer lasts for about 30 to 45 minutes. The following topics are covered:

• The body's (immune system's) response to a viral infection
• Vaccination vs. viral infection, side effects of vaccines, diseases that can be avoided with vaccination
• The nature of the COVID vaccines
• Opinions and myths related to vaccination
• How COVID vaccinations are conducted (who is vaccinating, where to find information etc.)
• In the second half of the meeting, the expert lecturer answers the questions of the participants.

Online, it is also possible to watch information sessions on COVID-19 vaccination that took place on September 27 and where doctors and top experts of the field answered the most common questions. The information session in Estonian, the information session in Russian, and the information session in Estonian with simultaneous interpretation into English can be found in the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Information on vaccination locations, county level vaccination coordinators, the vaccines, their effects and more common myths can be found on the web page vaktsineeri.ee.

Last updated: 14.10.2021 14:06

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Vaccination appointments (1st dose) booked through the digital registry and the call centre can be changed and cancelled in the national digital registry.

The appointment for the second dose is given by the vaccinator. We recommend definitely keeping that appointment. If there is an urgent need to change the time of administering the second dose (illness, becoming a close contact etc.), it is necessary to contact the medical institution that administered the first dose and ask if it is possible to find a new time slot. If this medical institution does not perform vaccinations at other times anymore or it is not possible to book a new appointment for other reasons, the previous appointment needs to be cancelled there (by phone or e-mail) and a new appointment for a second dose needs to be found by calling medical institutions directly.

It is possible to find the medical institutions performing vaccinations from the map at https://vaktsineeri.ee/en/covid-19/getting-a-vaccination/. It is also possible to turn to the state information line 1247 which aids people in finding a suitable medical institution and its contacts.

Last updated: 26.07.2021 11:44

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Age group 12-17

An appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination can be booked at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee, on the web page vaktsineeriapteegis.ee (in Estonian), from the state helpline 1247, and the registries of local hospitals and medical institutions. At the digital register an appointment for a minor must be booked by a parent or a guardian.

It is also possible to get vaccinated against the coronavirus at schools:

• in general education schools and vocational schools the vaccination is organised by school nurses who, in addition to vaccinating students, are also authorised to vaccinate the staff and, if necessary, other members of the community.
• the school nurse can organise the vaccination herself in the schools, include a health care service provider, or organise it so that the persons getting vaccinated arrive at the regional vaccination center.
• as with other vaccinations, minors are vaccinated at educational institutions only with the consent of a parent or a guardian.

More information: vaktsineeri.ee/vaktsineerimine-koolides (in Estonian).

Age group 5-11

A parent can book an appointment for their child to get vaccinated by contacting the child's family doctor. It is possible to book an appointment at the National eBooking System if the family doctor has joined the National eBooking System or for vaccinating the child at a hospital.

You can find information on different vaccination options from the web page vaktsineeri.ee. If you need further counselling in order to make a decision about the COVID-19 vaccination, we recommend consulting with your family doctor or calling the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 or 634 66 30. Calls are answered by medical professionals 24/7. Advice is provided in Estonian and Russian (in English every day between 15.00 and 17.00).

Last updated: 15.12.2021 12:53

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If you have already received one dose of the vaccine before you got infected, the necessity of a second shot depends on the moment you fell ill:

• if you got COVID-19 within two weeks of receiving the first dose, the recommendation is to administer one dose of the vaccine on the sixth month after recovery. After this the course of vaccinations is considered completed. Before receiving the second dose, if necessary, a person can prove their infection risk status with a COVID-19 recovery certificate which is valid if less than 180 days have passed since the positive test result (PCR test).
• if you got COVID-19 more than two weeks after receiving the shot, it is no longer necessary to administer the second shot and the course of vaccinations is considered completed.

In both cases it should be kept in mind that the vaccination status does not change automatically on the digital COVID certificates, rather a certificate needs to be created again after the health care service provider has entered the information proving recovery (for instance, a positive PCR test result). If there are any questions about the information on the COVID certificate created, you can turn to the user support line of the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre +372 794 3943 (7.00 to 22.00) or from the e-mail abi@tehik.ee.

If there is an unavoidable need (due to travel restrictions in certain countries etc.) a doctor can administer a person who has recovered from COVID-19 a second dose as well if the person wishes (the minimum time between the two doses is the interval determined in the summary of vaccine properties).

Last updated: 01.10.2021 17:31

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The vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis (the so-called tick vaccine):

• The interval between the COVID-19 vaccine and the vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis should be 14 days.

Flu vaccine:

• There in no fixed interval of time that should be left between the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine. The vaccines can be received on the same day as well, but in orde to identify possible reactions, the shots should be administered to different arms.

Last updated: 23.09.2021 15:34

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In Estonia this period is different for different vaccines. The maximum protection is considered achieved according to the manufacturer's instructions

• 15 calendar days after the second vaccine dose for the AstraZeneca vaccine Vaxzevria
• 14 calendar days after the single vaccine dose for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
• 14 calendar days after the second vaccine shot for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
• 7 calendar days after the second vaccine shot for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid
• 7 calendar days after the second vaccine dose for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty

If new COVID-19 vaccines come to the market, the period they take to achieve maximum protection is determined according to the particular manufacturer's instructions. If a person has recovered from the disease and has been vaccinated with one dose, the maximum protection is considered to have been achieved by the abovementioned deadlines.

Last updated: 09.05.2022 19:25

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Estonians and foreigners who have an Estonian personal identification code for whom it is not possible to log into the Patient Portal for technical reasons or who cannot create the EU COVID certificates in the Patient Portal, can submit an application for that in all service bureaus of the Social Insurance Board.

In order to create the certificate, the people who turn to the Social Insurance Board must have:

• an Estonian personal identification code and an identification document
• the vaccine must have been administered in Estonia

Everyone who wishes to receive a certificate can fill out an application (DOCX) in advance and print it out. An application that has either been filled out in advance or on the spot must be submitted to a suitable service bureau of the Social Insurance Board and an EU COVID certificate will be sent to the person's e-mail address within three working days from that. Even though a vaccination certificate can already be created after one vaccination, in order to participate in different events and activities in Estonia, the course of vaccinations has to be completed. The service is free of charge for everyone. More info from the web page of the Social Insurance Board.

If a person does not have the possibility to print out the certificate or display it from a smartphone, they also have the opportunity, for instance, to turn to the local library. This, however, requires a working ID card and PIN codes. If necessary, a person can also be assisted by the social worker of the local municipality.

If the PIN codes of the ID card are expired or lost, it is possible to apply for a new username and password from the service offices of the Police and Border Guard Board. The service costs 5 Euros.

Last updated: 23.09.2021 15:32

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Yes, if a person cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons, i.e. vaccination is contraindicated to him (e.g. he has anaphylaxis or a strong allergic reaction to a component of the vaccine, a previously occurred capillary leak syndrome etc.), a doctor can issue a corresponding certificate. A contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination is established by a doctor who documents it with an international disease classification (ICD-10) code, on the basis of which she can issue a paper certificate.

It should be noted that the abovementioned doctor's certificate is only valid within the country. In other countries you have to act according to the restrictions and requirements in force there. People who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons are urgently recommended to also use personal protective equipment, e.g. a FFP2 or FFP3 respirator, in order to reduce the infection risk.

Last updated: 14.03.2022 22:56

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Vaccinations can be administered by those doctors, nurses and midwives who have completed a basic training on immunization and refresher training within the previous five years.

Estonia has an agreement with the coronavirus vaccine manufacturers that the vaccines are delivered to the Health Board where the necessary vaccine storage conditions (including extremely low temperatures and following of the cold-chain requirements) are guaranteed. The Health Board organises the national distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines to the vaccination locations according to the vaccine distribution plan. Transport is guaranteed in a way that does not necessitate the creation of new and irregular storage conditions in vaccination locations. Even the most high maintenance vaccines can be stored in regular conditions for five days.

Vaccination against the coronavirus is currently free of charge for all Estonian residents (including those who are not covered by health insurance), persons who are in Estonia with a study, residence or work permit and European Union citizens staying here longer. Vaccination is voluntary.

More information on where and how to get vaccinated can be found on the web page vaktsineeri.ee:.

Last updated: 17.01.2022 16:01

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Yes. It is possible to choose between the different available COVID-19 vaccines when booking an appointment at the digital booking system at digilugu.ee.

Last updated: 07.05.2022 01:11

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Information on the different vaccines used in Estonia and the organisation of the vaccination can be found on the web page vaktsineeri.ee.

If you do not have a family doctor but need further counselling on the COVID-19 vaccination or you have questions, you can call the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 or 634 66 30. The calls are answered by medical professionals 24/7. Advice is provided in Estonian and Russian (in English every day from 15.00 to 17.00).

Last updated: 23.09.2021 14:45

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Yes. The protection that the vaccine offers against getting sick outweighs all the risks related to getting vaccinated, including for women who are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding:

• if a woman who is pregnant gets infected, it increases the risk of both premature labour and the probability that the woman ends up needing intensive care. Vaccination reduces these risks considerably.
• if a breastfeeding mother is vaccinated, the child will also obtain somewhat of a protection against COVID-19.

There is no biological reason why corona vaccines should be unsafe for pregnant women, foetuses or children who are being breastfed. This is also supported by animal tests in which multiplied vaccine doses administered to rats did not bring about any direct or indirect harm to pregnancy, the development of the foetus, birth or the postnatal period.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), where the Society of Estonian Gyneacologists is also a member, supports vaccinating pregnant and breastfeeding mothers against COVID-19, accounting also for the risk of infection, the size of the pregnancy, the health condition of the mother etc.

If you need further counselling to make a COVID-19 vaccination decision, we recommend consulting with your family doctor or calling the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 or 634 66 30. The calls are answered by medical professionals 24/7. Advice is given in Estonian and Russian (advice in English every day between 15.00 and 17.00).

Last updated: 22.09.2021 20:11

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Estonia is making free COVID-19 vaccinations available to foreign citizens as well. The vaccination of foreign citizens is taking place similarly to that of Estonian residents -- it is free of charge for them and is taking place at the same vaccination locations.

We recommend turning to larger vaccination and medical centres in order to get vaccinated. See more: vaktsineeri.ee.

Last updated: 11.05.2022 23:47

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A valid vaccination or recovery certificate is not a basis for travelling abroad. The requirements of the destination country for entering, the conditions for the self-isolation obligation, and restrictions in force on the spot need to be taken into account when travelling. Information on the conditions for entry into other countries can be found on the Reisi Targalt website (in Estonian).

Depending on the requirements of the destination country, a COVID certificate may offer an exemption from certain restrictions that the country has enacted (e.g. self-isolation, entry to museums and entertainment venues etc.).

Last updated: 15.06.2022 15:36

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The vaccine itself definitely does not contain anything that could cause coronavirus. The vaccine contains only very particular virus particles, not the whole virus.

Thus it is unfortunately unclear where the vaccinated person got the disease. The incubation period of the virus is 2-12 days, so it cannot be ruled out that the person came into contact with the virus more than a week before receiving the first dose of the vaccine, or even on the day of vaccination. It could have taken place at the hospital or any other place that the person happened to be at (public transport, store, elevator, public toilet, and other public places).

Unfortunately five days is not enough time for the vaccine to already offer protection. The test data from the Phase III trials of Pfizer show that infection rates among the vaccinated started to noticeably decrease only 12 days after receiving the first shot. The maximum protection only occurs a week after receiving the second dose.

Last updated: 08.04.2021 16:06

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Estonia recognises the vaccinations that are recognised by the person’s country of. There is no separate way to register vaccinations received in other countries but the vaccination status of a person does need to be proven on the border.

Last updated: 16.03.2021 16:48

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It is not necessary to do a corona test before vaccination. It is, however, necessary to come to the vaccination healthy. Postpone the vaccination temporarily if you are currently suffering from a fever, have COVID-19 or have been a close contact.

Last updated: 23.09.2021 15:40

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Yes, vaccinations are voluntary in Estonia and the same also applies for the vaccination against COVID-19.

At the same time, it is highly recommended to get immunised against the coronavirus as vaccination reduces severe illness and hospitalisations, makes it possible to also protect those who cannot get vaccinated themselves, and is probably the only real solution for turning back to our regular order of life.

Information on where and how to get vaccinated can be found on the web page vaktsineeri.ee. If you need further counselling to make a COVID-19 vaccination decision, we recommend consulting with your family doctor or calling the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 or 634 66 30. The calls are answered by medical professionals 24/7. Advice is given in Estonian and Russian (advice in English every day between 15.00 and 17.00).

Last updated: 22.09.2021 19:57

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You do not but staying in self-isolation is urgently recommended if a person living with you is infected. The new variants of the coronavirus spread very quickly and people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 can get infected as well. A close contact within a family further increases the risk of getting infected and transmitting the disease.

Recommendations if there is a close contact within a family:

• Stay in self-isolation for at least five days. If there are no symptoms you can return to your regular order of life. If symptoms occur, do a rapid antigen test.
• Take out a certificate for sick leave for the self-isolation period if necessary. A family doctor can issue a certificate for sick leave if the patient is suspected of having an infectious disease due to being a close contact.
• If it is not possible to do distance work or take out a certificate for sick leave, do a rapid antigen test before leaving home.

Last updated: 31.10.2022 16:45

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Persons who get vaccinated at their family doctor's office will, upon request, be issued an immunisation passport in paper format by the family doctor.

Many people will already have received an immunisation passport in the past. If you are one of them, please take it with you when you go out to get vaccinated.

Last updated: 10.08.2021 16:40

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