Over 7300 deaths due to Covid-19 were prevented in Finland by the end of March 2022 by Covid-19 vaccinations
23.01.2023
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The information is included in a yet unpublished register analysis by THL. According to the analysis the vaccinations prevented deaths particularly among people over 70 years of age and other risk groups, but also among younger people. For example, among people of 30-39 years of age outside risk groups approximately 30 deaths due to Covid-19 were prevented.
According to the analysis, the third vaccination dose is effective in preventing the deaths due to Covid-19 particularly among the elderly. The third dose prevented approximately 1300 Covid-19 deaths especially in those over 70 years, but its effect in preventing Covid-19 deaths in those under 60 years that were otherwise healthy was small.
Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered to the population since December 2020. To those aged 18 to 59 years not included in risk groups a series of three Covid-19 vaccinations is recommended, and to those aged 60 to 64 years a series of four vaccinations is recommended. To those included in risk groups and people 65 years or older an early winter tailored booster dose is recommended independent of previously administered vaccine doses.
THL continues to monitor the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines in the following years for example with regard to new Covid-19 variants and the tailored booster dose implemented last autumn. The information is used to evaluate Covid-19 vaccine recommendations.
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