Releases

The Immigrants section of the Rokotustieto.fi website has now also been published in Somali. The Immigrants section provides information on the necessary vaccinations and the vaccination program for people who have moved to Finland. 

In addition to social and health care, employees in many other fields also need vaccinations for their work.

Many social and health care workers as well as other professional groups need vaccinations for their work. Vaccinations given due to work-related infection risks can be obtained from occupational health care. 

The pneumococcal vaccine is now offered free of charge to 65-84-year-olds with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to severely immunocompromised people under 75 years of age. 

Seasonal flu and its complications affect people of all ages every winter. In Europe, about 50 million people get sick from them every year. The most effective way to protect yourself from the disease is the flu vaccine. How can the changing flu viruses be combated more effectively in the future and people protected from the disease?

The corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) causes primarily an acute respiratory infection that is spread as a droplet infection. The clinical picture may vary from almost asymptomatic to severe. Advanced age particularly combined with a basic illness increases the risk of a severe illness and death.

The elderly should get vaccinated to decrease the risk of serious illnesses and reduced functional capacity. By keeping their vaccination coverage up to date, elderly people can lead a full life.

One of the priority projects of the European Union's cancer control program aims to root out cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) by 2030 in the EU. The EU's goal is vaccination coverage exceeding 90% for girls and a significant increase in vaccination coverage for boys. 

The vaccination of children helps to prevent many diseases that were once common and are, at worst, life threatening. The youngest children are at the greatest risk of getting these diseases.

Finland started vaccinations in the early 1800s with vaccinations against smallpox, but the country continued to have a high rate of child mortality for a long time. 

According to the Infectious Diseases Registry of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), a total of 123 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were reported in 2022, which is slightly less than the 148 cases in 2021. In previous years, there have been fewer than 100 cases.  

Each year, the international vaccination week is celebrated during the last week of April (April 24–30). The aim of the theme week is to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases by promoting the use of vaccines. Vaccines save millions of human lives every year and inarguably form one of the most successful and cost-effective health measures.  

Vaccines should be used more effectively. 

Prior to travelling, it is recommendable to update your vaccinations. Additional vaccinations are sometimes needed. Immigrants often require additional vaccinations as well.  

Besides bookings and tickets, travellers should also keep their vaccinations in check. 

The Finnish National Medicines Day is a national theme day for all users of medicines and health care professionals, celebrated on March 16 with the theme "Keys to Medicinal Treatment – Making Your Treatment Path Smoother". 

According to the preliminary analysis of The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Covid-19 vaccinations prevented over 7300 deaths due to Covid-19 during the time period 27.12.2020–31.3.2022. Additionally, the vaccinations may have prevented over a thousand deaths where Covid-19 would have been a contributing factor.