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 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
The new 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.
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.
The administration period of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine has been temporarily extended until the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The vaccination series can be started up until when the young person turns 18 years of age. The prolongation is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic all vaccinations may not have been administered according to the planned schedule, and the HPV vaccinations of young persons have lagged behind schedule.
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.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends the fourth corona vaccine dose for people aged 70-79 years who belong to a risk group. Risk groups include e.g. people with a severe cardiovascular or pulmonary disease or diabetes. Advanced age and background illnesses increase the risk of serious coronavirus disease, and so the recommendation enables gaining the maximum health benefit.
An interview with Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala from the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland.
Entirely novel vaccines, developed at record speed, have been employed to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. The technology these vaccines are based on has however been investigated for over 20 years, and it has been successfully used in several patient studies in e.g. oncology.
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.
The amount of TBE cases reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register of The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) rose significantly compared to previous years. In 2021 150 TBE cases were reported to the register, preceded by 69-91 cases/year during 2017-2020. The rise may be due to climate change, awareness of tick-borne diseases and the increase in domestic travel and outdoor activities.
The volume of pharmaceutical information has grown dramatically in recent decades. Just a few decades ago there was very little information available in writing and no digital information at all. Nowadays, it is possible to find information not only in books but also on the internet, where anyone can set up a website, and no one monitors the accuracy of the information.
