In Finland, more than 60 per cent of those aged 12 or over have received the second coronavirus vaccine dose
The number of those who have received the first coronavirus vaccine dose in Finland is now approximately 4.03 million and the number of those who have received the second dose is 3 million. About 83 percent of the population aged 12 or over have been given their first coronavirus vaccination dose, and about 62 percent have received two.
"It is still important that especially those under the age of 40 take the first coronavirus vaccine doses, as the number of those with the first dose within the age-group is still well below 80 percent. Coronavirus disease can also be severe in those under 40 years of age and require hospitalisation,” says Mia Kontio, Chief Specialist at THL.
Two vaccine doses provide effective protection
After two doses, all coronavirus vaccines used in Finland provide good protection against coronavirus infection and excellent protection against severe coronavirus disease that requires hospitalisation.
"THL has proposed that third doses be offered to limited groups, i.e., those with weakened immune system and to groups that were vaccinated at an inter-dose interval of 3 to 4 weeks at the beginning of vaccination. The matter is being decided by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Government. The majority of the rest of the population have been vaccinated later and at an inter-dose interval of 6 to 12 weeks, so their vaccines are still effective. Giving a third dose to the entire population is not a matter of urgency at the moment", Kontio says.
According to a THL study, two vaccine doses provide approximately 78 per cent protection against coronavirus infection and over 90 per cent protection against a form of the disease requiring hospitalisation.
Over eight million doses of coronavirus vaccine have arrived in Finland
A total of over eight million doses of coronavirus vaccines have arrived in the country since the beginning of vaccination. The next week, approximately 196,000 vaccine doses will arrive, after which approximately 126,000 to 127,000 vaccines will arrive during the next few weeks. The number of doses that will arrive in the last week of September will be higher again, with approximately 315,000 doses reaching the country.
Further information:
Mia Kontio
Chief Specialist
[email protected]
