New decree on coronavirus vaccinations in effect from 23 December – coronavirus vaccinations may be offered to children aged 5-11
Municipalities may offer coronavirus vaccinations to all children aged 5-11. The Government amended its decree on coronavirus vaccinations on 22 December to allow vaccinations for all in Finland who are 5 years old and older. The decree took effect on 23 December 2021. In the past, only those aged 5 to 11 who were at risk of severe coronavirus disease were offered the coronavirus vaccine.
On 2 December, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommended coronavirus vaccinations to children with seriously immunocompromised persons close to them. On 17 Dec. THL also proposed amendments to the Decree on Vaccinations to allow everyone aged 5-11 the possibility to be vaccinated. The amendment to the decree allows both groups the possibility to be vaccinated against COVID-19. THL nevertheless emphasises that the launch of vaccinations for all children aged 5–11 must not delay booster shots given to groups who are at risk of severe coronavirus disease.
Under-aged persons may decide themselves if they want a vaccine if the health care professional administering the vaccine considers that, based on their age and development level, the child or young person is sufficiently mature to decide on the matter on their own. No legal age limit has been set for an independent decision, which is why the situation is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For most of those aged 5–11, the consent of their guardians is required.
Municipalities are responsible for coronavirus vaccinations, and they decide on the practical arrangements of vaccinations for children. Vaccinations may be arranged, for example, in school health care or at coronavirus vaccination points, where others are also vaccinated.
Illness caused by coronavirus usually mild among children
Serious cases of disease linked with COVID-19 infection in children are rare. Only a very small proportion of children who have fallen ill have come down with a more serious clinical picture. In Finland a total of 29 children aged 5-11 had been hospitalised for coronavirus disease by 12 December, and one of them was put in intensive care.
The risk of a severe case is higher among children with medical risk factors. Based on research so far, long-term symptoms (long COVID) after a coronavirus infection are likely to be rare.
Coronavirus vaccines are as effective for children as they are for healthy adults
Information of the safety of coronavirus vaccines for children aged 5–11, based on monitoring, has come especially from the United States, where children in thes age group had been given more than 7 million doses of an mRNA vaccine by mid-December. Nothing unexpected has come out in the research. Most adverse events were the same that had emerged in clinical research conducted by the manufacturer before the sales permit was granted.
Rare cases of pericarditis and myocarditis numbered about 1 case per million vaccine doses, which is less than for older age groups.
Further information:
info(at)thl.fi
Coronavirus vaccinations for children and young people
Vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 disease in Finland (in Finnish, Julkari)
