The recommendation for a third coronavirus vaccination already applies to 2.5 million people in Finland
In Finland, 2.5 million people belong to a group for which a third coronavirus vaccination dose is recommended already.
A total of 260,000 of third doses has been given. 46 per cent of those aged 60 or over who have received the second vaccine dose more than six months ago have also received a third dose.
In total, there are around 520,000 people in Finland who have had the second coronavirus vaccination over six months ago. The majority of them, or 73 per cent, are over 60 years old.
“The third vaccination doses are already providing additional protection for numerous older people. Age is the most significant factor that makes people susceptible to severe coronavirus disease. In addition, the vaccination of social and health care professionals indirectly protects the most fragile and the elderly,” says Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at THL.
THL recommends the third vaccine dose to the following groups:
- those aged 60 or over
- those living in institutions and care homes
- those in medical high-risk groups
- persons whose immune defences have weakened to a great degree
- persons who have been vaccinated at a short vaccination interval of less than 6 weeks
- health care personnel that work with coronavirus patients
- around-the-clock care personnel, and other social welfare and health care personnel providing urgent care.
“For others than those with an immunodeficiency, a third dose is currently recommended six months after the second dose. This is due to the fact that most of them have a very good vaccine protection against a severe disease for about six months, even though the immunity against infections deteriorates earlier,” Nohynek says.
“The vaccination order complies with the recommendations of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). ECDC calls for vaccination to be used first to protect the older, more fragile people and health care professionals, and to set the minimum age limit at 40 years. They recommend booster doses mainly for those over 40 years of age, at the earliest six months after the second dose,” Nohynek says.
In Finland, the need for a third vaccine dose for persons under 60 years of age, other than those mentioned above, will be discussed at the meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines on Wednesday 1 December 2021. THL will then issue their statement to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and communicate on the subject separately.
Large regional differences in third doses
Municipalities are responsible for the organising the coronavirus vaccinations and have given third doses since September.
There are major regional differences in third vaccinations. The largest populations of people with three vaccine doses are in Åland, Lapland and Western Ostrobothnia, and the smallest in Kymenlaakso.
“There are regional differences in how quickly the administration of third doses has been started when influenza vaccinations are also in progress,” says Mia Kontio, Chief Specialist at THL.
Further information:
Vaccination order and at-risk groups for COVID-19
ECDC statement: Risk of very high COVID-19 burden unless public health measures are applied urgently
Hanna Nohynek
Chief Physician
THL
Mia Kontio
Chief Specialist
THL
[email protected]
