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Ministry cuts HPV vaccine from budget

The Finance Ministry’s budget proposal for next year has cut funds earmarked for inoculating girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.

Henkilö vetää rokotetta ruiskuun.
Image: Yle

Adding the jab to the national vaccination programme would have cost 8.2 million euros in the first year.

Approved health sector initiatives meanwhile include extending the paid month-long paternity leave, known as "daddy month," by 12 days, giving new dads 54 days to care for their babies.

To safeguard the purchasing power of low-income earners, the government is introducing index adjustments for certain basic social benefits granted by the Social Insurance Institution (Kela). The move is designed to offset the impact of the increases in VAT rates on the purchasing power of low-income earners.

The lion’s share of the state budget is earmarked for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, with funds totalling some 12.6 billion euros.

Sources: Yle