THL proposes a third coronavirus vaccine dose for limited groups
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) proposes that third coronavirus vaccine doses should first be administered to people whose immune system is weakened due to a disease or its treatment.
"Two vaccine doses are not always enough to provide these people with sufficient protection against severe coronavirus disease. For them, the third dose raises the protection provided by the basic vaccination series to an adequate level,” says Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at THL.
According to the proposal, people aged 12 or over with a weakened immune system may be given a third dose after at least two months has passed since the second dose. In the near future, THL will define in more detail the diseases or conditions that weaken the immune system significantly and a third dose is needed.
On the basis of the THL recommendation, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Government will decide on the vaccination order for third doses.
A booster dose is necessary for some of the people vaccinated first
THL also proposes that a third coronavirus vaccine dose be administered as a booster to those who have received coronavirus vaccination first in the vaccination order at an 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 whom were vaccinated at short dose interval in early 2021.
"We are proposing that the basic vaccination series should be boosted for this group, because they have been vaccinated at a shorter dose interval than others. It has already been a long time since the second dose, and the effectiveness of the vaccination is gradually declining. It is important to protect first-line health care personnel both to ensure their own health and to secure the capacity of hospitals. Also, the risk of severe coronavirus disease is particularly high for elderly people in nursing homes,” Nohynek explains.
A third vaccine dose could be administered after a sufficiently long period of time has passed since the second dose. Based on the currently available research data, THL will investigate what would be a sufficient interval to ensure the best possible protection.
"If enough vaccines are available in the country, we estimate that third doses could be offered at the same time to the whole group. The estimated size of the group is approximately 100,000 people. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the administration of first and second vaccine doses does not slow down due to the administration of third doses,” says Mia Kontio, Chief Specialist at THL.
During the autumn, THL and the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (KRAR) will assess whether the third dose is also needed as a booster for other population groups.
"At the moment, it seems likely that at least the elderly and those at risk will need a booster dose at some point. We expect new research results during the fall from both Finland and the countries that have administered two doses of coronavirus vaccine at a 12-week interval. We will re-evaluate the situation in the light of these research results,” Nohynek says.
A person who has had the coronavirus disease is well protected with a single vaccine dose, the dose interval can be shortened to six weeks
In the light of the new research data, THL instructs that only one dose of coronavirus vaccine instead of two can be administered to patients who have had a coronavirus disease confirmed by a PCR test. Recent studies both in Finland and elsewhere show that one vaccine dose protects these patients at least as well as two doses protect a person who has not had the disease.
THL also instructs that municipalities may, at their discretion, shorten the interval between the first and second dose of coronavirus vaccine to six weeks.
"The rapidly spreading delta variant has become the dominant coronavirus in Finland, and municipalities can therefore consider whether there is a need and a potential for shortening the dose interval in the area. However, THL does not recommend a dose interval shorter than six weeks, as the immune response produced by the vaccination will then be weaker than with an interval of six weeks,” Nohynek says.
The proposals and recommendations of THL are in line with the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Vaccinations.
Further information:
Hanna Nohynek
THL
Chief Physician
[email protected]
Mia Kontio
THL
Chief Specialist
[email protected]
