THL instructs municipalities to offer third vaccine doses to people with severe immune deficiency

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is instructing municipalities to offer a third coronavirus vaccination as part of the primary vaccination series to anyone 12 or over whose immune response is significantly reduced due to a disease or its treatment. Municipalities can start administering third doses to this group immediately.

“According to research, two vaccine doses are not enough to protect people with severe immune deficiency against coronavirus disease, so a series of three vaccinations is recommended for them. For most people with immune deficiency, a third dose raises the protection provided by the basic vaccination series to an adequate level,” says Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at THL.

A third dose can be offered to people with severe immune deficiency at least two months after the second dose. The vaccine product used for the third dose will primarily be the same product as the second dose. Another vaccine can also be used for the third dose if necessary. This could be the case due to severe allergy or the age limit of the AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, or if the municipality does not have the same vaccine available.

“Giving third doses to people with severe immune deficiency should not slow down the administration of the first and second vaccine doses in municipalities. We have received a good number of doses in Finland, so we can recommend starting third doses for people with severe immune deficiency immediately”, says THL Medical Specialist Anniina Virkku.

Upcoming instructions on third vaccinations for people with short dose intervals

As soon as possible, THL will prepare instructions on administering third vaccine doses to people who received the coronavirus vaccination among the first with a dose interval of 3 to 4 weeks. This group includes health care personnel working with coronavirus patients and, among others, elderly residents of nursing homes and the employees caring for them, most of who were vaccinated at a short dose interval in early 2021.

For other population groups, the need for a third vaccine dose will be examined later this autumn.

Further information:

Hanna Nohynek
Chief Physician
THL
[email protected]

Anniina Virkku
Medical Specialist
THL
[email protected]