Finnish national vaccination programme

The objective of the national vaccination programme is to protect people against diseases preventable by vaccination as well as possible. Vaccinations are voluntary and free of charge.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health makes decisions on the vaccination programme. Vaccines in the vaccination programme are financed from the central government budget.

Vaccination programme for children and adults

The vaccination programme is affected by

  • changes in the incidence of infectious diseases preventable by vaccinations
  • protection provided by vaccines and changes in the effectiveness of protection
  • vaccine development, changes in vaccines and new vaccines
  • changes in the severity of the disease, related secondary diseases and long-term adverse effects
  • changes in risk groups
  • adverse effects after vaccinations.

Vaccination schedule is carefully considered

Vaccines are scheduled in a manner that enables achieving adequate protection at the right time with minimum vaccine doses and adverse effects.

Issues to consider in scheduling vaccinations

  • severity of disease prevented by vaccine
  • risk of illness for people of different ages
  • maturity of the vaccinated person’s defence system
  • effectiveness of the vaccine
  • possible adverse effects of the vaccine
  • health care resources.

Wellbeing services counties are responsible for the practical arrangements for vaccinations

Under the Communicable Diseases Act 1227/2016, wellbeing services counties are responsible for making practical arrangements for vaccinations. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare provides health care personnel with instructions on the implementation of the vaccination programme.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare monitors the implementation and effectiveness of the national vaccination programme

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare monitors the occurrence of diseases prevented by vaccinations. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare also monitors the safety of the vaccination programme.

Vaccination coverage in Finland is high. Thanks to vaccinations, many diseases and their secondary diseases and complications have become very rare, or they have been eradicated in our country.

Vaccination coverage

The pages describing individual vaccines provide more detailed information on the benefits of vaccination.

Vaccines included in the national vaccination programme

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