Vaccination programme for children and adults
Vaccines included in the national vaccination programme are free of charge. They are administered at child health clinics, school health care or at local health centres.
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- Vaccinations for children
- Vaccinations for adults
- Vaccination programme by age
- Vaccinations for immigrants
- Vaccinating people in at-risk groups
Vaccinations for children
In Finland, all children and young people are eligible for vaccinations against 13 different diseases, related secondary diseases and long-term adverse effects (table).
Each vaccine is given at an age that provides the child with the optimal protection at the right time.
Vaccinations for adults
Adults must personally make sure that they have received at least three tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccines as a primary series.
The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccinations given during childhood and youth are boosted in adulthood (table). There is normally no need for a booster for the polio vaccine for adults who have been given the primary vaccine series. The booster is recommended only for those travelling to or from risk countries.
Every adult must have protection against measles, rubella and mumps, either through immunity acquired through having had the diseases or a dose of the MMR vaccine. Adults’ MMR vaccination protection is boosted if it is inadequate.
Vaccination programme by age
Table. Vaccination programme for children and adults
| Age | Disease prevented by vaccine | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | Rotavirus diarrhoea | Rotavirus |
| 3 months | Meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and ear infection | Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) |
| 3 months | Rotavirus diarrhoea | Rotavirus |
| 3 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib diseases such as meningitis, epiglottitis and blood poisoning | 5-in-1 vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib) |
| 5 months | Meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and ear infection | Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) |
| 5 months | Rotavirus diarrhoea | Rotavirus |
| 5 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib diseases such as meningitis, epiglottitis and blood poisoning | 5-in-1 vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib) |
| 12 months | Meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and ear infection | Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) |
| 12 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib diseases such as meningitis, epiglottitis and blood poisoning | 5-in-1 vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib) |
| 12–18 months * | Measles, mumps, rubella | MMR |
| 6 mos. – 6 yrs. | Influenza (annually) | Influenza |
| 1.5 to 11 yrs. | Varicella (chickenpox) | Varicella ** |
| 4 yrs. | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio | 4-in-1 vaccine (DTaP-IPV) |
| 6 yrs. | Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella | MMRV |
| 10–12 yrs. | Cancers caused by the human papillomavirus, such as cervical cancer, and cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and the head and neck area | HPV |
| 14–15 yrs. | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis | dtap booster |
| 25 yrs. | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis | dtap booster |
| 45 yrs. | Diphtheria, tetanus | dT booster |
| 65 yrs. | Diphtheria, tetanus | dT booster |
| 65 yrs. | Influenza | Influenza |
* THL recommends that the first dose of an MMR vaccine be administered at the age of 12 months
* * for children who have not had varicella
Vaccinations for immigrants
Under the national vaccination programme, vaccination protection is offered to the following groups of immigrants:
- children seeking asylum and pregnant women
- quota refugees
- persons who have been granted asylum
- persons who have a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection
- adopted children
- foreign students using student health care
- others who have permanently immigrated to Finland.
Health care services check and evaluate whether the immigrant's vaccination coverage meets the recommendations of Finland’s vaccination programme. The vaccines for risk groups are available for those belonging in medical risk groups.
The vaccination protection of those who have moved to Finland from abroad and their families is checked. There may also be deficiencies in the vaccinations of those originating from regions near Finland.
Prevention of Infectious diseases among asylum seekers
Vaccinating people in at-risk groups
In addition to the primary vaccination protection covered by the national vaccination programme, those at risk are offered tailored vaccination protection against certain diseases.
These vaccinations are also part of the national vaccination programme and are free of charge for the recipient.
BCG vaccinations
The BCG vaccine is only offered to those children under the age of 7 who are at an increased risk of tuberculosis based on the grounds for vaccination determined by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Hepatitis vaccines
Persons with an increased risk of hepatitis A or B due to their living conditions are eligible for hepatitis vaccination based on the grounds for vaccination determined by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Influenza vaccinations
The influenza vaccine will be free for those for whom influenza is an essential health risk, or who receive significant health benefits from the vaccination.
Influenza vaccine (“flu shot”)
Meningococcal vaccinations
Meningococcal diseases are rare in Finland. Therefore, meningococcal vaccines are offered free of charge as part of the national vaccination program only to certain medical risk groups who, according to criteria defined by the National Institute for Health and Welfare, are at increased risk of meningococcal disease.
Depending on the bacterium causing the disease, meningococcal vaccines may also be offered for close contacts.
Pneumococcal vaccinations
Children under 5 years of age in certain medical risk groups may be given the PPV vaccine in addition to the PCV pneumococcal vaccine free of charge as part of the national vaccination programme.
Children at a particularly high risk of severe pneumococcal disease or a related secondary disease due to their illness are entitled to receive a free PPV vaccination.
Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine
Persons aged 3 or over who live permanently or spend their summers in areas with a high incidence of tick-borne encephalitis are eligible for tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, vaccines under the national programme.
Vaccinations of stem cell transplant recipients
After stem cell transplants, patients are more susceptible than usual to a number of diseases preventable by vaccination. As a result, it is necessary to restore their vaccination protection.
Vaccinations under the national vaccination programme are free of charge for stem cell transplant recipients. Certain other vaccinations are also recommended for them.
