Free influenza vaccination for risk groups has started
Many municipalities will start vaccinating those in risk groups against influenza at the beginning of November. Influenza is a serious illness that can cause dangerous secondary diseases, such as pneumonia. The influenza vaccine prevents the spread of the virus and protects both your own health and your family.
The influenza vaccine will be free for those for whom influenza is an essential health risk, or who receive significant health benefits from the vaccination.
A free influenza vaccine is available to anyone predisposed to severe influenza, i.e.:
- those aged 65 and over
- children aged between 6 months and 6 years
- pregnant women
- those belonging to risk groups because of their illness or treatment.
In addition, the influenza vaccine will also be given free of charge
- men starting their military service and women starting their voluntary military service
- those residing or staying in institutional conditions on a long-term basis
- social and health care workers and pharmaceutical care workers participating in the immediate care or maintenance of patients or clients
- certain persons close to those predisposed to severe influenza.
Definition of close persons has been specified
The definition of close persons has been clarified compared to previous years. The reason for it is the amendment to a decree by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Free influenza vaccination will be given to those who are repeatedly in close contact with a person particularly predisposed to severe influenza or with a person predisposed to severe influenza that cannot be protected by an influenza vaccine.
“In practice, a person close to the related party must live in the same apartment or engage in weekly face-to-face communication with a person with severe immune deficiency or other serious illness, a person with a basic illness and a poor condition aged 65 or over, a pregnant person, a child under 6 months, or a person predisposed to severe influenza who cannot be vaccinated,” says Anna Scherleitner, Medical Specialist at THL.
However, THL also recommends an influenza vaccine for those who are repeatedly in close contact with people who are predisposed to severe influenza, but who are not defined as a person close to them according to the decree. For them, however, the vaccine will be self-paid.
Influenza vaccines can be taken simultaneously with other vaccines
If necessary, an influenza vaccine can also be administered simultaneously with another vaccine, such as a coronavirus vaccine. This may be the case, for example, for those in risk groups of influenza who still lack one or two vaccine doses or who will shortly receive a third coronavirus vaccine dose.
“This group includes for example elderly people whose second coronavirus vaccine was given six months ago,” says Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at THL.
More vaccines available than last year
Last year, influenza vaccines were taken more enthusiastically than in previous years, and in some places, they even ran out. This autumn, more vaccines have been ordered in Finland than last year.
Two million vaccine doses to be injected have been acquired for the national vaccination programme, which is 300,000 more than in the previous season. In addition, 116,000 doses of children's nasal spray vaccines have been ordered.
There will also be clearly more influenza vaccines outside the national vaccination programme coming to Finland than last year, apparently over 600,000 doses.
You can receive information on vaccination arrangements from your health centre
Those entitled to a free influenza vaccination can obtain it from their own health centre, child health clinic, or maternity clinic. Municipalities will provide information on how influenza vaccinations will be arranged, and when and where vaccinations can be taken.
Those outside the scope of free vaccination can get a prescription from their physician, buy the vaccine in a pharmacy, and visit a health centre, for example, to have it administered to them. The vaccine will also be available from private medical centres. Some employers offer the vaccination to their employees, in which case it will be administered by the occupational health services.
Influenza epidemic has not yet started
Influenza epidemic has not yet started in Finland. Only a few influenza infections have been diagnosed during October.
THL monitors the progress of the influenza season and updates the influenza information during the entire season.
Additional information
What is influenza? (in Finnish)
THL
Influenza vaccinations for those close to predisposed persons (in Finnish)
THL
Up-to-date information about influenza (in Finnish)
THL
Anna Scherleitner
Medical Specialist (vaccination and vaccines)
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8371
[email protected]
Hanna Nohynek
Chief Physician (vaccinations and vaccines)
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8246
[email protected]
Niina Ikonen
Chief Specialist (influenza monitoring)
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8413
[email protected]
