The safety and effectiveness of vaccines are based on extensive scientific research

The use of vaccines is founded on reliable and up‑to‑date research. Finland’s national vaccination program is the result of thorough assessment, and every vaccine included in the program serves an important purpose.

Vaccination is a natural but far safer way to acquire immunity than falling ill. Contracting the disease can be hundreds of times more dangerous than receiving the vaccine.

Research shows that vaccinated individuals experience fewer infections than those who are unvaccinated. The effectiveness of most vaccines included in today’s vaccination program exceeds 90 percent.

Vaccines are especially effective at preventing the most severe forms of disease. A vaccinated person may still become infected, but the illness is typically significantly milder.

Vaccine research is long-term work

Developing a vaccine is a multi‑stage scientific process. Studies conducted throughout the long development cycle ensure that a vaccine provides protection against the targeted disease and causes as few adverse effects as possible.

A vaccine must meet all quality requirements set by the EU. Marketing authorization is granted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The use of a vaccine is also monitored after approval. Suspected adverse effects are reported to a registry maintained by the Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea.

Fimea forwards all adverse event reports it receives to EMA, which in turn reports them to the vaccine’s marketing authorization holder and to the World Health Organization (WHO). These databases are monitored for signals of any previously unidentified side effects.

The national vaccination register maintained by THL enables monitoring of vaccination coverage, effectiveness, and safety.

THL assesses and develops the national vaccination program

THL evaluates the need to update the national vaccination program. A new vaccine may be considered for inclusion if a new product becomes available or if the incidence of a vaccine‑preventable disease changes.

Vaccines and vaccination schedules are assessed based on scientific evidence from both individual and societal perspectives. A vaccine must be safe for the individual, and its widespread use must not lead to excessive population‑level harms relative to its benefits.

A vaccine may be offered to an entire age group if doing so is expected to significantly reduce the burden of disease at the population level. Alternatively, it may be targeted at specific risk groups.

THL’s vaccine‑specific expert groups conduct the assessment work. After this, the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (KRAR) gives its recommendation, which forms the basis for THL’s final vaccination recommendation.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health decides whether a vaccine will be added to the national vaccination program after consulting the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (TTNK). Funding for the vaccination program is decided by the Finnish Parliament.