Guest blog: Cancers caused by HPV can be eradicated by vaccination
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 disease burden caused by HPV is […]
Every child deserves to be vaccinated
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 […]
The number of tick-borne encephalitis cases decreased slightly last year – Espoo Suvisaaristo included in the national vaccination program
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. Based on the monitoring data from 2018 to […]
Guest blog: Hefty package from vaccine product development pipelines – confident for the year ahead
Vaccines should be used more effectively. Finland’s health care expenditures amount to 22 billion euros, of which the vaccination programme covers just 0,14 %. Of the EU member states 77 % spend below 0,5 percent of their health care budget on their vaccination programme. Here in Finland, as well as in EU member states in […]
Immunisation coverage should be verified for both travellers and immigrants
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. − In addition to the immunisations that are mandatory in Finland, additional vaccinations are also needed depending on the destination, […]
Guest blog: Vaccinations help prevent long COVID symptoms
Long-term coronavirus symptoms i.e. ‘long COVID’ are a significant detriment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. These long-term symptoms are most often reported after severe COVID infections that have required hospital treatment, but long COVID symptoms may also occur after an acute infection with less severe symptoms. The overall picture of the effect of vaccines against long […]
Over 7300 deaths due to Covid-19 were prevented in Finland by the end of March 2022 by Covid-19 vaccinations
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. The information is included in a yet unpublished register analysis […]
Blog: coronavirus vaccine protection – weakening and vulnerable or strong and sustainable?
Mika Rämet Professor of Paediatrics and Experimental Immunology Compared with the previous coronavirus variants, the Omicron variant requires a much greater concentration of neutralising antibodies produced by coronavirus vaccines to prevent the virus from entering the cell. Without these antibodies, breakthrough infections will begin to appear among vaccinated people just a few months after the […]
Finns consider vaccinations important for preventing serious diseases
According to a study almost all (96 %) Finns consider vaccinations important for preventing serious diseases. Particularly those with a higher academic degree and those aged 50-79 years consider vaccinations important. However a fifth of Finns is unaware which vaccinations they should have taken, or which vaccinations are recommended. According to the study the awareness […]
Maternity and child health clinics and a National Immunisation Programme supporting children’s health
For over one hundred years, maternity and child health clinics in Finland have been offering guidance and information on children’s health. The vaccinations administered at the clinics have helped to eradicate many infectious diseases from Finland that are life-threatening for children. “Finns are incredibly proud of their maternity and child health clinics. The trump […]
