COVID-19 vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine, the corona vaccine, is available at all our Vaccine Clinics without an appointment!
In Finland, BioNTech-Pfizer’s Comirnaty JN.1 vaccines are used in both private and public healthcare. The vaccine is suitable for starting the basic series and boosting the already started series, for adults and young people over 12 years of age. Corona vaccines protect against the severe forms of the coronavirus disease.
People in the risk groups are vaccinated free of charge at a health center or a vaccination point in their own wellbeing services county. Read about the risk groups eligible for free vaccination on the THL corona vaccine page.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule
Basic series
For those who have not been vaccinated before, the basic vaccination series includes 1-3 doses, depending on the age and the health status of the person to be vaccinated. One dose is sufficient for a healthy adult and a child over 12 years of age.
Corona booster Comirnaty JN.1
A booster dose is recommended for the autumn-winter period 2024-2025.
- People at risk of severe coronavirus disease will receive a free booster vaccination at the vaccination point in their own wellbeing services county. The latest JN.1 variant vaccine is recommended for people at risk regardless of how many corona vaccines a person has previously received. The vaccine can also be obtained at their own expense from the Vaccine Clinics without an appointment.
- People who are not eligible to get the free vaccine can also get vaccinated against coronavirus at their own expense and without an appointment at the Vaccine Clinics. The vaccine is suitable for all adults and children over 12 years of age.
Recommended interval to the previous corona vaccine
We recommend a booster for people with underlying diseases and immunodeficiencies aged 18–50 and for everyone over 50 years of age no earlier than 6 months after the previous vaccination, if the previous vaccine was an older variant.
The booster vaccination is given no earlier than 12 months after the previous vaccination, based on individual consideration and need, to healthy people aged 12–50 and to those aged 12–18 with underlying illnesses.
Does the corona vaccine affect other vaccinations?
Other vaccines can be taken at the same time as the corona vaccine, or at any time interval. When there is a need to receive several vaccines at the same time or in a short period of time, the different vaccines are usually given in separate arms. For example, after the corona vaccination, you can take the influenza vaccine on the same day or a week later. In this case, we will inject the vaccines to separate arms.
Corona vaccine and travel
A traveler may be at a greater risk of coronavirus infection, as the virus is particularly susceptible to infection in crowded, closed and cramped spaces. Such places include airports, airplanes and cruise ships.
Travelers should take the corona vaccinations according to general recommendations. The use of the EU digital corona certificate ended on June 30, 2023. The corona certificate is not required for travel and is no longer in use in Finland.
Corona pandemic
Coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, is a disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The new coronavirus became known worldwide in December 2019, when the disease caused a new type of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. From there, the virus began to spread, causing a global pandemic. WHO maintains up-to-date statistics on global infection rates, see the map on the WHO website.
How is coronavirus transmitted?
Coronavirus is mainly spread through close contact and is transmitted through the respiratory tract of a person with the disease, for example through sneezing, talking or coughing. Viruses are transmitted in small droplets to the environment, from which the infection can be acquired through the eyes, nose or mouth. Sometimes the infection can also be acquired through surfaces or hands.
Symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19)
Coronavirus can cause a variety of symptoms in those who are infected. Symptoms can be very mild, or they can be serious and even lead to death. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, loss of sense of smell and taste, sore throat, stuffy nose, nausea and diarrhea. As a sequel to coronavirus disease, pneumonia caused by bacteria such as pneumococcus can also occur.
Long-term corona or long covid
About 5-10 % of those infected with coronavirus are known to develop long covid. Its typical symptoms are severe exhaustion, shortness of breath and brain fog. Long covid can also cause long-term disability. People of all ages can get long covid. Vaccination is also known to provide protection against long covid.
Coronavirus variants
All viruses mutate over time. Different coronavirus variants are slowly evolving. Some virus variants only appear for a short period of time, and some remain in circulation longer. Some virus variants are more easily transmitted and some cause milder or more severe symptoms. The new variants have generally been more easily transmitted and less dangerous.
Risk groups for the severe coronavirus disease
Anyone can get a severe form of coronavirus disease, but certain groups are at higher risk for the severe disease. The risk groups for the disease are largely the same as for the influenza virus and RSV.
Risk brought by age
The risk of getting seriously ill increases with age. The risk begins to increase especially after the age of 50, and the older the person, the greater the risk. Most deaths caused by corona have occurred in people over the age of 65.
Immunocompromised people
Immunocompromised people are at higher risk of getting a severe coronavirus disease. Immune deficiency can be caused by the disease or the medication used to treat the disease.
Underlying diseases
Certain underlying diseases increase the risk of getting a serious form of coronavirus disease. The risk also increases if there are several underlying diseases. Diseases that increase the risk include, among others: cancer, chronic kidney or liver disease, chronic lung disease, heart disease or diabetes. Read the risk groups defined by THL.
Coronavirus and pregnancy
Pregnant women are at risk of a severe coronavirus disease. The corona vaccine is recommended during pregnancy and is primarily intended to protect the expecting mother. Corona infections in infants do not usually cause a particularly severe disease for the baby. The vaccine is well tolerated and can be given at any stage of pregnancy. Since the aim is to protect the mother from a severe form of the disease, it is advisable to get the vaccine quite early in pregnancy. The mother’s antibody production also protects the baby after birth.
Further reading:
RSV vaccine
influenza vaccine
Vaccines and coronavirus – THL
Sources: Rokotepalvelu medical and vaccine experts, THL, WHO and CDC
