Monitoring the safety of coronavirus vaccines at THL: mortality has not increased after vaccination

According to a follow-up study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), mortality has not increased after the administering of coronavirus vaccines in Finland. The monitoring took place between 1 October 2020 and 10 January 2022.

In THL’s follow-up study, the mortality of vaccinated persons was examined for 0–20 days and 0–41 days after the vaccinations were administered. The mortality of about 4.4 million persons who have received the first dose, 4.1 million who have received the second dose and 2.1 million who have received the third dose was monitored. 

When vaccinated persons were compared with the unvaccinated, mortality in the after-vaccination monitoring was clearly lower than in the control group, even after the second and third dose of vaccine. No differences between vaccine products were found.

“Low mortality after vaccination is partly explained by the fact that those in good condition and health get vaccines more actively. The vaccinations of the most ill persons, who have a high risk of death, are postponed. A vaccine is often administered once the sudden illness has passed,” explains Petteri Hovi, Senior Researcher at THL. 

The study matched gender, age, underlying conditions and institutional care to make the examination of incidence after third doses of vaccine comparable. Persons susceptible to a severe coronavirus disease, who also have the highest risk of death, were the first to be administered the third doses.

Further information:

Petteri Hovi
Senior Researcher
THL
[email protected]