THL: Winter booster dose for the coronavirus vaccine should be taken now
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) encourages all for whom the winter booster of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is recommended to get the vaccination as soon as possible. The winter booster vaccine protects the elderly and others in at-risk groups against severe coronavirus disease and the risk of death. Getting vaccinated against influenza at the same time is also recommended. The vaccination reduces secondary diseases, deaths, and the risk of needing hospitalisation or institutional care triggered by influenza.
“Many vaccination locations are closed on the holidays as well as the days between Christmas and New Year’s and getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and influenza before Christmas is worthwhile, if possible. Many people meet friends and family during Christmas, so it is good to have immunity established before that. This is another reason why it would be important to get the vaccinations now”, says THL Chief Physician Hanna Nohynek.
More than a million people still without their winter boosters
More than 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 booster, which has been tailored for variants, have been administered in Finland. The recommendation applies to about two million people, which means many of those who would benefit from the vaccination have not taken their winter boosters.
“Those who have had coronavirus disease more than three months ago have been getting additional protection against a severe disease because of the infection. Those who are part of an at-risk group should take the booster nevertheless”, says THL Medical Specialist Mika Muhonen.
“We must also keep in mind that the elderly have significantly fewer COVID-19 infections than the younger population. This means that many lack fresh protection against severe coronavirus disease”, Muhonen explains.
The COVID-19 situation has remained stable in Finland for several months. The burden placed on specialised health care has remained unchanged, but in primary care the number of patients has slightly increased.
Plenty of influenza vaccine still available
The influenza season extends from October through the end of April. More than 1.4 million doses of influenza vaccine have been administered in the autumn, about a million of which are doses of the national vaccination programme. The national vaccination programme still has a total of 1.85 million injectable doses of the vaccine and 116,000 doses of intranasal vaccine, so plenty of vaccines are still available.
“The influenza epidemic has already begun. The number of diagnosed cases of influenza reported to the Finnish National Infectious Diseases Register has increased in recent weeks. Both influenza A virus types and influenza B viruses have been detected in Finland”, says” THL Chief Specialist Niina Ikonen.
As both the coronavirus and influenza are now occurring at the same time, it is possible to be infected by both at the same time, especially if the number of influenza infections increases.
“Both vaccinations are worth taking, because being infected by coronavirus and influenza at the same time can be a serious situation”, says Hanna Nohynek.
At-risk groups for coronavirus and influenza nearly identical
The target groups for the winter booster for coronavirus and the influenza vaccine are nearly identical.
THL recommends a booster for coronavirus for all those who are 65 years old and over, for those over the age of 18 who are in a medical at-risk group, and for those over the age of 12 who suffer from severe immune deficiencies. In exceptional cases the booster can also be given to others over the age of 18 based on individual consideration and risk assessment, for example to accommodate local requirements of a foreign travel destination.
The booster vaccination can be taken when at least three months have elapsed from the previous vaccine, or from having been infected by COVID-19. For the target groups of the booster dose, the number of previous vaccinations is no longer counted, or how many times a person has been infected by the disease or been exposed to the virus.
Groups entitled to a free influenza vaccination include those over the age of 65, those who are susceptible to severe influenza because of a specific disease or treatment, those who are pregnant, as well as children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. Also entitled to free vaccinations are those spending time near people who are especially susceptible to severe influenza, professionals in social and health care and in the supply of medicines, and those beginning their military service.
The coronavirus and influenza vaccines can be taken at the same time. Municipalities are prepared to give vaccinations before the new year; vaccination activities will be reduced after Christmas.
Municipalities are responsible for organising vaccinations and they inform residents where and when the vaccinations are available.
Coronavirus winter boosters can be checked online as of 14 December.
The progress of COVID-19 vaccinations in Finland can be monitored on the THL website where the information is updated Wednesday afternoons at 13:00.
The page has information on vaccine coverage among all those over 18 years of age and on the number of doses administered. On the pages it is also possible to check vaccine coverage in individual municipalities, hospital districts, and age groups.
From Wednesday, 14 December the page will also show figures for booster coverage. These new numbers will be updated on Wednesday, 14 December.
Further information (in Finnish):
Progress of coronavirus vaccinations
Influenza vaccinations given in the 2022-2023 period
Up-to-date influenza report
Mika Muhonen (vaccination progress)
Medical Specialist
THL
[email protected]
Niina Ikonen (viruses)
Chief Specialist
THL
[email protected]
Hanna Nohynek (Coronavirus and influenza vaccinations)
Chief physician
THL
[email protected]
