VACCINATIONS
Vaccinations
The COVID-19 vaccine is offered in Finland to all who are 12 years old and above and want to take the vaccine. Additionally, vaccinations are offered to children under the age of 12 based on individual consideration.
The primary vaccination series for all includes two vaccine doses, except for children aged 6 months to 4 years and persons with severe immunodeficiency, whose vaccine series includes three doses.
Boosters refer to vaccine doses given in addition to the primary vaccine series and previous coronavirus infections, which maintain protection against a serious disease and death.
Vaccine doses offered to different groups
COVID19 -vaccine booster doses
Recommendes for:
all over 65 years of age
Those over 18 years of age belong to the medical risk groups
For persons with a severely weakened immune defence (over 12 years of age)
If a member of the above target group has been vaccinated with the autumn winter 2022 booster dose, there is no need for a new booster dose in the spring winter of 2023 until THL gives instructions on the following booster doses.
Several viruses are spreading respiratory infections, in Finland typically in late autumn or winter time. Most common viruses are influenza, corona or RSV (Respiratory Synctial Virus) .
Among other pathogenic viruses (=the one which causes symptoms) corona virus is relatively wide spread in early November.
Symptoms in corona disease (COVID-19) are now mainly moderate (fever, cough, headache, sneeze etc.). Medical consultation or hospital care is needed if symptoms are severe (e.g breathing difficulties, long lasting high fever or other exeptional sypmtoms).
Recommendations
Remember hygiene: Wash hands and maintain good sneeze and cough practices in order to minimize infections. Use a face-mask if needed to protect others.
It is recommended to stay and rest at home if infected. If needed, contact your employer or school to inform your abscence. Return to work, school or hobbies is recommended when symptoms are clearly eased.
If you have infection and appointment to health care or other treatment, please reschedule.
In order to protect risk groups, please avoid visiting hospital units or other care facilities if you have any symptoms. Health care staff will give further instructions and for instance guides with face masks.
How to
If you need urgent medical care assistance or advice, please call our
- Medical Helpline tel: 116 117. In an urgent or life threatening emergency, call the emergency number 112 instead.
According to the national program, those whose health is seriously threatened by influenza or whose health is significantly benefited from vaccination receive the INFLUENZA VACCINATION free of charge.
- Children (6 months–6 years)
- Pregnant women
- Everyone over the age of 65
- Due to illness or treatment, they belong to a risk group
- Close circle of those particularly susceptible to severe influenza (THL guidelines)
- Men start their conscription service and women start voluntary military service
- Social, healthcare and pharmaceutical personnel
Those who do not belong to the risk group can take the vaccination at their own expense. You can send a request for a prescription for the influenza vaccine to the health center via Omasote (www.omasote.kainuu.fi) or you can request a prescription by calling your own health center. After getting the vaccine from the pharmacy, you can come and vaccinate yourself on the vaccination days mentioned below.
The pneumococcal vaccines included in the national vaccination programme for certain patients. Prevenar13-vaccine is offered free of charge
For
65–84 aged patients with asthma or copd (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
under 75 aged patients with severe immune deproivations or severe kidney diseases
- Stem cell transplant recipients
NB! Prevenar13 vaccine is given in one dose only. If you have had it previously, no extra dose is needed. If previously vaccineted with Pneumovax, then Prevenar13 is given.
Pneumococcal vaccinations in the national vaccination programme