The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) have updated their COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for children under 12 years of age. COVID-19 vaccinations are not recommended for all children but some children may benefit from the vaccine based on individual assessment.
Influenza is a much more severe disease than the common cold, and its complications may even prove fatal at worst. It is the only traditional respiratory infection with a vaccine.
Mika Rämet
Professor of Paediatrics and Experimental Immunology
This season’s influenza vaccine distribution has started in September, and the vaccination of social and health care personnel has already begun. Other groups entitled to a free-of-charge influenza vaccine, e.g. those over 65 years and those under 7 years, will begin in October or November.
According to a study almost all (96 %) Finns consider vaccinations important for preventing serious diseases.
A new study shows that vaccination coverage could be strengthened with a digital vaccination card. 79 % of Finns believe that they would take better care of their vaccinations, if vaccination information was included in e.g. a digital vaccination card in the Omakanta service. Additionally over nine in ten people (91 %) would like to be reminded when it’s time to take a booster shot.
An interview with Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala from the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland.
World Immunization Week – celebrated in the last week of April (24 to 30 April) – aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
New things are easily seen as something to be afraid of. For example, why should the completely new RNA vaccine technology be used against COVID-19 when there are more traditional ways to produce vaccines that have been used for a long time?
We often have reservations about things that are new and unknown to us. During the coronavirus pandemic, there have been misgivings about vaccines. For example, the media have asked whether mRNA vaccines can change our genetic code or have other serious health effects. My attitude towards vaccines reflects my broad and varied experience as a researcher. My work has involved RNA for more than 20 years. I’m therefore very familiar with the technology and mechanism of action of mRNA vaccines. I also know that this technology is safe.
Many municipalities will start vaccinating those in risk groups against influenza at the beginning of November. The influenza vaccination is free for those for whom influenza poses a considerable health risk, or who gain significant health benefits from the vaccination.
