Coronavirus vaccinations are underway – THL has clarified the order of priority for risk groups

Coronavirus vaccinations were started in Finland in late December 2020. As there is initially only a limited supply of the vaccines available, the vaccination order has been decided based on a medical risk evaluation. The first to be offered the vaccine were healthcare personnel caring for coronavirus patients and personnel and residents of round-the-clock care facilities. The elderly will be vaccinated after this, followed by other at-risk groups.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has drawn up a priority list determining the order in which coronavirus vaccines will be offered to people with different underlying illnesses, i.e., those belonging to risk groups. The underlying illnesses have been divided into two groups. Group 1 includes illnesses that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease to a very high degree and group 2 includes diseases that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The vaccine will be offered to group 1 first and then to group 2 after that.

Municipalities are responsible for the provision of the vaccines and will inform the residents of the municipality when and where the vaccinations will take place. You can follow the progress of the COVID-19 vaccinations on the THL website. 

Sources

• Getting vaccinated against COVID-10: how, why and when? - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL
• Vaccination order and at-risk groups of COVID-19 - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL 
• Mediuutiset: Tässä järjestyksessä riskiryhmäläiset saavat koronarokotteen – THL julkaisi priorisointilistan (In Finnish)
• THL has detailed medical risk groups for coronavirus vaccines - Press release - THL