This autumn’s coronavirus vaccinations are starting with updated vaccines against the JN.1 variant
This autumn’s coronavirus vaccinations are starting in accordance with the individual schedules of the wellbeing services counties. Finland has received Comirnaty vaccines, which have been updated to target the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus as recommended by the European Medicines Agency EMA.
Research has shown that coronavirus vaccines that have been updated to target the JN.1 variant maintain the effectiveness of previously administered vaccines and provide protection against the currently circulating variants that cause COVID-19. The updated vaccines were granted marketing authorisation in Europe in early July 2024.
THL recommends COVID-19 booster for elderly people and those in certain risk groups
This autumn, the booster dose is recommended to the following groups:
- elderly residents of care homes or elderly clients who use home care services regularly;
- persons aged 75 and over; and
- persons of all ages with severe immunodeficiency.
The vaccine should also be offered to all persons aged 65 and over and all persons aged 18 and over with any condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19.
Vaccinations of the oldest persons and those in certain risk groups should start early in the autumn
THL recommends starting the coronavirus vaccinations significantly earlier than in previous autumns. The aim is to prevent hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID-19.
It is recommended that the vaccination should first be offered to the elderly residents of care homes and elderly clients who use home care services regularly, all persons aged 80 and over and all persons with severe immunodeficiency. It is also recommended that persons aged 75–79 should be vaccinated earlier than in previous autumns.
Persons aged 65 and above and persons aged 18 and above who are in a risk group can be vaccinated against the coronavirus later when the influenza vaccine is offered. The administration of influenza vaccines is recommended to start in October, which is earlier than in previous autumns.
The coronavirus vaccinations of this autumn will begin in accordance with the individual schedules of the wellbeing services counties. The wellbeing services counties will announce when and where the booster doses are available.
The recommended basic series of the coronavirus vaccine has been updated – this recommendation applies to those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 at all
THL has updated the recommended basic series of COVID-19 vaccines. The new recommendation applies to persons who have not received any coronavirus vaccines. In the new recommendation, bouts of COVID-19 are no longer treated as vaccine doses. Instead, the recommendation is the same regardless of how many times the person has had COVID-19.
Going forward, the recommended basic series of COVID-19 vaccines is as follows:
- For persons aged 18 and over and for persons aged 12 and over who are in a risk group: one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine instead of the previous three doses.
- For persons with severe immunodeficiency: two doses.
- For persons who have received a stem cell transplant: 2–3 doses based on the individual's situation.
Going forward, for persons under the age of 18 the COVID-19 vaccine will only be recommended to those aged 12 and above who are in a risk group and persons with severe immunodeficiency from the age of six months.
Boosters are aimed at maintaining the protection of those at the highest risk of contracting severe COVID-19.
THL’s recommendation is based on the revised WHO SAGE (Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization) Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines.
By the end of 2023, approximately 78% of the entire population of Finland had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of those aged 18 and above, 88% had received at least one dose.
The number of COVID-19 cases is on slight increase in Finland with a similar situation in Europe
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 entered in the Infectious Diseases Register has been gradually increasing since May. Wastewater-based surveillance also shows a slight increase in the entire country.
Similar increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases has also been observed in other EU/EEA countries. In this respect, the situation is largely the same as it was in summer 2023, albeit the number of cases started to increase slightly earlier this summer.
Additional information
Preventing respiratory tract infections
Mia Kontio (vaccinations)
Chief Specialist
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 8365
[email protected]
Leif Lakoma (coronavirus situation)
Chief Physician
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 7898
[email protected]
