Vaccinations – Vaccination coverage among children

Vaccination coverage among children born in 2023

Vaccination coverage among children in Finland is high, and coverage among children born in 2023 remains at a good national level.

Approximately 92% of children born in 2023 began the rotavirus vaccination series. The coverage of the rotavirus vaccine has remained stable in recent years.

The pneumococcal vaccination series was initiated for about 96 percent of children in the same age group.

The first dose of the 5-in-1 vaccine (protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib diseases) was administered to nearly 98 percent of children born in 2023. The coverage of the 5-in-1 vaccine has also remained nearly unchanged in recent years.

94.5 percent received a dose of the MMR vaccine. Which is 0.8 percent less than in the previous age group.

Coverage of the first dose of the varicella vaccine decreased for the first time since the vaccine was introduced into the national vaccination programme in 2017. Among children born in 2023, the varicella vaccination series was initiated for about 89 percent.

Coverage of first vaccine doses by vaccine in children born in Finland in 2018–2023
Year Rotavirus vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine 5-in-1-vaccine MMR-vaccine Varicella vaccine
2018 93,1 96,7 98,6 95,4 84,3
2019 93,3 95,5 97,1 94,8 86,4
2020 92,9 95,7 97,1 94,7 86,8
2021 92,7 96,6 97,7 95,1 88,3
2022 92,4 96,7 97,8 95,3 89,8
2023 92,3 96,3 97,6 94,5 89,4

Coverage of the 4-in-1 vaccine and the second dose of the MMR vaccine among children born in 2018

95 percent of children born in 2018 have received the 4-in-1 vaccine (protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio). The coverage of this vaccine has decreased slightly compared with the previous cohort.

Coverage of the second dose of the MMR vaccine among children born in 2018 is about 92 percent nationally. To ensure that possible individual cases of disease do not lead to outbreaks, coverage of the second dose of the MMR vaccine should be at least 95 percent.

Coverage of second dose of MMR vaccine and 4-in-1 vaccine among children born in 2013–2018 in Finland
Year MMR vaccine 2 dose 4-in-1 vaccine
2013 93,5 88,6
2014 92,9 95,3
2015 93,1 93,5
2016 92,6 92,8
2017 92,4 95,5
2018 92,1 95

Proportion of unvaccinated children

The proportion of children who are completely unvaccinated up to the age of three is higher among children born in 2023 than in earlier cohorts. Up to the age of eight, the proportion of unvaccinated children has not increased compared with the previous cohort.

Unvaccinated children up to three years of age born in Finland between 2017 and 2023
Year %
2017 1,0
2018 1,1
2019 1,2
2020 1,4
2021 1,6
2022 1,8
2023 2,2

Unvaccinated children up to eight years of age born in Finland between 2012 and 2018
Year %
2012 0,6
2013 0,7
2014 0,7
2015 0,8
2016 0,8
2017 0,9
2018 0,9

About the data in more detail 

Background information 

Source

Tilastoraportti 5/2026, 26.3.2026
Vuonna 2023 ja 2018 syntyneiden lasten rokotuskattavuudet 2026. THL.

Description of the statistics 

The annually published Children’s Vaccination Coverage statistics report the coverage of vaccines included in the national vaccination programme among children who turn three during the reporting year, as well as the proportion of children of the same age who remain unvaccinated. In addition, the report presents the coverage of the fourth dose and the second dose of the MMR vaccine among children who turn 8 years old in the given year, and the proportion of unvaccinated children who turn 8.

Update schedule 

The next report will be published in spring 2027.
The publication schedule for new data can be found in THL’s statistics release calendar