THL: No need for booster round for coronavirus vaccinations in the spring – population-level protection against serious disease remains good

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) does not recommend a population-wide booster vaccination round for this spring. Booster doses are however recommended for people with severe immune deficiencies, where each case will be assessed individually by a physician. 

The epidemic situation in Finland is calm at the moment, and there is currently no reason to expect any epidemic surges in the spring similar to last year. The number of patients has decreased considerably in both specialised medical care and primary health care. The number of deaths due to coronavirus is also lower than before. 

“We are still constantly monitoring the epidemic situation, the need for hospitalisation and deaths in different age and risk groups”, emphasises Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at THL. 

In September, THL recommended a booster dose for everyone aged 65 or over and persons in risk groups aged 18 or over. 

“The people who got the booster have fresh immune protection, so a new booster round in the spring would not give them significant additional benefits in preventing severe coronavirus disease”, says Nohynek.

By 23 February 2023, more than 860,000 variant-tailored booster doses had been administered in Finland. The recommendation concerns about two million people in total. Variant boosters are still available from wellbeing services counties. 

For healthy people aged under 65, the recommended three doses of the vaccine – or two doses and having had COVID-19 – offer high-level and long-term protection against serious disease. During the 14-month monitoring period, the level of protection has hardly decreased, and it is not expected that the protection will significantly deteriorate in this age group.

“On the flip side, coronavirus vaccinations only give minor and short-term protection against Omicron infections”, Nohynek says.

If you have not yet received your recommended coronavirus vaccine doses, you can still get them. Wellbeing services counties are responsible for organising vaccinations, and they inform residents where and when vaccinations are available. 

Boosters for the severely immunodeficient based on individual risk assessment

From the start of March 2023, THL recommends administering booster coronavirus vaccinations to persons aged 12 or over with severe immunodeficiency based on an individual risk assessment by a treating physician. It is also recommended to assess the need for coronavirus medication when an infection occurs, as those with severe immune deficiency do not always produce a response to the vaccine or their response may be weak. 

People with severe immune deficiency do not gain equally good protection against COVID-19 from vaccines as healthy people do. People with severe immune deficiency include persons who have undergone organ transplantation, who are receiving dialysis treatment or who have received chemotherapy within a year. 

“Each treating physician can assess their patient’s need for boosting the vaccination protection, the patient’s immune response, risk of illness, other means of protection and timing in relation to other treatment”, says Mika Muhonen, Medical Specialist at THL. 

THL does not issue specific instructions on the number and timing of booster doses for people with severe immune deficiency. The marketing authorisations for vaccine products indicate a minimum interval of three months for booster doses. 

Targeted booster dose round possibly in the autumn

THL is monitoring the development of the coronavirus epidemic and will adjust its vaccination recommendations if necessary.

“One consideration is whether we should have the next round of booster doses for older people and people in risk groups next autumn. There is the possibility of giving the vaccine together with influenza vaccinations again”, says Nohynek.  

The exact timetable and target groups depend on the vaccine products available in the autumn, the epidemic situation, accumulated research data, the timetables for influenza vaccinations and practices in other countries. More information on these will be shared in the summer at the latest. 

“We’ll also make changes to the list of medical risk groups if necessary”, says Muhonen.  

THL’s recommendations on coronavirus vaccines are based on evaluations made by the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (KRAR) and THL, which take into account both Finnish and international research data.

In accordance with Finland’s current coronavirus vaccination strategy, coronavirus vaccinations are offered on medical and epidemiological grounds. The main objective is to prevent serious disease and deaths caused by coronavirus.

Further information

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19

THL statement on coronavirus vaccinations in 2023 (PDF 306 KB, in Finnish)

Hanna Nohynek
Chief Physician
THL
[email protected]

Mika Muhonen
Medical Specialist
THL
[email protected]