THL lists priority risk groups for coronavirus vaccination

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has drawn up a priority list to be used for determining the order in which coronavirus vaccines are offered to persons under the age of 70 with different underlying illnesses – i.e., to risk groups for COVID-19 disease, said an official press release.

The ranking is based on a medical risk evaluation and it supports the Finnish coronavirus strategy, which is aimed at reducing the loss of years of potential life and of deaths caused by coronavirus and maintaining the carrying capacity of the healthcare system.

The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (KRAR) was consulted in the drafting of the list.

Age is the most significant risk factor for severe coronavirus disease. Certain underlying factors also affect the risk of a severe disease, and those who have them are also at a greater risk of hospitalisation, intensive care, or death from the disease than the rest of the population.

“The high-risk groups on the list also include persons whose illness or treatment of an illness weaken their immune defences, who have a long-term and serious cardiac or renal disease, or whose chronic pulmonary disease itself makes breathing more difficult,” said THL Chief Physician Tuija Leino.

The person may also have many illnesses or attributes that increase the risk at the same time. For example, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity often occur together. However, hypertension on its own does not significantly increase the risk of a severe disease in an otherwise healthy person.

Underlying illnesses are divided on the list into two groups according to the degree to which the illness makes a person more susceptible to severe coronavirus disease. The first group includes illnesses that increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease to a very great degree and the second includes diseases that increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease.

Of these groups, the coronavirus vaccine is offered first to group 1 and then, to group 2. Within the groups all of those with underlying conditions are vaccinated at the same time.

“The purpose of the listing is to offer coronavirus vaccines according to a medical evaluation of the risks in as fair a sequence as possible. The order of vaccination based on the risks of severe diseases results in the greatest possible impact. With the amount of vaccine that is available, it is possible to prevent as many severe cases of the disease as possible,” added Leino.