Covid vaccine booster jabs are recommended for people who are at an elevated risk of complications from a case of Covid-19 this autumn, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Tuesday.
This group of at-risk individuals includes people who are 65 years of age or older, as well as adults belonging to risk groups and kids aged 12 and up who have diminished immune systems, THL explained in a press release.
The institute has recommended that the coronavirus vaccine booster be distributed alongside influenza jabs. However, wellbeing services counties will be able, at their own discretion, to independently roll out the boosters to those most at risk.
THL's chief physician, Hanna Nohynek, said the highest risk groups include elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities, as well as the severely immunocompromised.
According to THL, there is no medical reason to distribute the new boosters to the entire population. It said that people under the age of 65 not belonging to risk groups who have received coronavirus jabs in the past are still well protected from suffering severe forms of Covid.
The new coronavirus booster shot to be used in Finland is Pfizer's new Comirnaty vaccine for the XBB.1.5 variant, THL noted last month.