THL recommends: Corona vaccinations should be continued by age group
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends that corona vaccinations should be continued by age group after those aged 70 or over and those at risk because of an underlying disease have been vaccinated. Vaccinations would also be continued by age group if vaccine distribution was targeted regionally.
"The risk of severe coronavirus disease increases with age also among non-elderly people. This is why vaccinations should progress from the oldest to the youngest by age group. The proposal to continue the vaccination order has been made on the basis that it would be the best possible way to prevent serious cases and deaths as well as safeguard the capacity of the health care system,” says Chief Physician Taneli Puumalainen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare's proposal, vaccinations would proceed in periods of ten years, with the first age group vaccinated being people aged 60 to 69. The youngest group would be people 16 to 29 years old. People younger than that will not be vaccinated for the time being, as the marketing authorisations for corona vaccines have only been granted for vaccinating people aged at least 16 or 18. The effectiveness and safety of corona vaccines for children are currently being researched.
The proposal has been drafted in consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (KRAR), appointed by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, whose recommendation supports the continuation of vaccinations by age group.
Vaccination of social welfare and health care professionals must be promoted according to the current situation
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare does not support the vaccination order based on different occupational groups as the differences in the risk of coronavirus infection among different occupational groups are relatively small compared to, for example, differences between age groups. A simple vaccination order also speeds up the vaccinations of the population. However, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommends that the vaccinations of social welfare and health care professionals be continued in areas with a large amount of cases in those personnel groups whose vaccination is necessary to ensure the continued capacity of health care.
"In vaccinating people, it is also important to take into account those living in care facilities and other vulnerable persons. For example, it would be possible for municipalities to vaccinate all people living in the same facility at once, regardless of the age group to be vaccinated,” says Hanna Nohynek, Chief Physician at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Vaccinations for the entire population are expected to start in May
According to current estimates, almost all elderly people will have received a corona vaccine by mid-April and almost all of the risk groups by mid-May. The number of vaccines available in Finland is likely to increase during April and May, so that the vaccinations for the rest of the population could be started during May. The COVID-19 vaccination is offered to all persons aged 16 or older who wish to take the vaccine.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has prepared its proposal for the continuation of the vaccination order to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Further information:
Taneli Puumalainen
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Chief Physician
[email protected]
Hanna Nohynek
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Chief Physician
[email protected]
