HELSINKI (FINLAND) – Finland’s government said on Thursday it had given thumbs up to a national strategy for COVID-19 vaccinations, starting with selected healthcare staff from January.
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Krista Kiuru told reporters, “Finland’s goal is to protect the entire population by offering the vaccine free of charge to all those willing and who don’t have a health obstacle.”
Finland is buying vaccines under the European Union’s joint scheme in which deliveries will be shared between different countries.
Going by the agreements the European Commission has secured so far, Finland will get 3.6 million doses, sufficient to provide the necessary two doses to 1.8 million citizens out of Finland’s 5.5 million population, according to its public health authority said.
Healthcare personnel treating COVID-19 patients or working in elderly care homes will be first to get their shots in January, and the next would be the elderly and other vulnerable groups, the government said.
However, it dismisses chances of vaccinating children before more studies on the topic had been concluded.
The disease’s 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants has doubled to 101 cases from 55 in the previous two-week period.
That said, Finland’s incidence rate was among the lowest in Europe on Wednesday, behind Iceland at 55.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and Ireland at 83.8, as shown by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control data.
