News on Coronavirus COVID-19

Viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory tract infections are currently circulating widely in Finland. The influenza epidemic, for instance, is starting and the number of COVID-19 cases is on slight increase. Fortunately, the precautions to avoid infections are still valid – also during Christmas.

A groundbreaking joint study by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and Aalto University has revealed critical insights into the role of bots in shaping public health discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on Twitter.

Many wellbeing services counties will begin offering influenza vaccinations to at-risk groups in October. A vaccine with an adjuvant – which creates a stronger immune response – is recommended to people aged 85 and above to ensure better vaccine protection that will last for the entire influenza season. The influenza epidemic has not yet begun in Finland.

This autumn’s coronavirus vaccinations are starting in accordance with the individual schedules of the wellbeing services counties. Finland has received Comirnaty vaccines, which have been updated to target the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus as recommended by the European Medicines Agency EMA.

Wastewater-based surveillance is an effective tool for monitoring the prevalence of infectious diseases circulating in communities. The WastPan project aimed to improve pandemic preparedness through wastewater-based screening. Wastewater contains several pathogens, thus providing an opportunity to monitor the spread of infectious diseases.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s welfare were particularly marked in young people with disabilities, and especially those with a foreign background, a recent study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reveals. Around 40 per cent of young people with disabilities and a foreign background reported anxiety, compared to only 14 per cent of the population.

A recent report compares Finns’ state of health and Finnish health services with other EU states and Nordic countries. Released by the European Commission, focus areas of the report include the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and mental health. Although Finland does well in many respects, there are challenges especially in the availability of health services. 

During the first year of the coronavirus epidemic in 2020, mortality increased more among working-age people with disabilities than the rest of the population.