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Children and adolescents

Children and adolescents are vaccinated against 13 infectious diseases under the National Immunisation Programme via child health clinics and school health care. The vaccinations are free of charge and voluntary.

Age

The disease the vaccine protects against

Vaccine

2, 3 and 5 months

Rotavirus diarrhoea

Rotavirus

3, 5 and 12 months

Meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and ear infection

Pneumococcus conjugate
(PCV)

3, 5 and 12 months

Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and the Hib diseases, such as meningitis, epiglottitis and sepsis

5-in-1 vaccine
(DTaP-IPV-Hib)

12–18 months

Measles, mumps, rubella

MPR

6 months – 6 years

Influenza (annually)

Influenza

1,5–11 years Chicken pox Chicken pox*

4 years

Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio

4-in-1 vaccine
(DTaP-IPV)

6 years

Measlesmumpsrubella or

Measlesmumpsrubella, chicken pox

MPR or MPRV**

10–12 years

Cancers caused by the human papillomavirus, such as cervical cancer, and cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and the head and neck area

HPV

12 years

Chicken pox

Chicken pox***

14–15 and 25 years Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough dtap

*for children who have not had chickenpox
**for children who have not had chickenpox and who have received the first dose when aged under 6 years
***for children who have not had chickenpox and who have received the first dose at the age of 6 to 11 years 

  • The timing of different vaccinations is carefully considered to maximise the protection against the diseases in question. Many of the diseases and their potential sequelae are more dangerous for younger children.  For this reason, certain vaccines are administered to infants at only a few months of age.
  • Many vaccines require multiple doses or booster shots to ensure that the body develops sufficient immunity against the disease. The immunity that is developed is usually long-lasting, sometimes even lifelong.
  • People who are in a risk group for a given disease due to an underlying condition or life situation are offered an expanded immunisation schedule. Those in risk groups are offered vaccinations against diseases such as tuberculosis, seasonal influenza, pneumococcal diseases, tick-borne encephalitis and different types of hepatitis.
  • The vaccination coverage of Finnish children is high. Nearly all Finnish children receive all of the vaccinations included in the National Immunisation Programme. This also helps provide protection to those children who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition, for example.
  • Children who miss out on vaccinations that are normally administered at child health clinics can later supplement their immunisations via school health care or student health care.
  • The high vaccination coverage and the National Immunisation Programme have almost entirely eradicated the MMR diseases from Finland. The numbers of tetanus, diphtheria and Hib cases are also down to a small fraction of what they were before vaccinations began.
  • It is important to keep in mind that additional protection may be necessary when travelling abroad. Even in Europe, there are certain countries that may warrant Hepatitis A vaccination, for example. Vaccinations that are not included in the National Immunisation Programme are subject to a charge. They are available from health centres and private medical centres.

Further reading

Page published 30.04.2018 | Page edited 22.01.2024