THL for 4th vaccine dose for 80+, risk group

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Monday recommended that those in age groups that are vulnerable to the risk of severe coronavirus disease – those aged 80 years and over, and those aged 70–79 who belong to a risk group – should get a fourth vaccination, said the THL in a press release.

Additionally, the fourth coronavirus vaccine dose is recommended for those living in elderly care homes and older people under organised home care or informal care as well as other older people whose health and functional capacity have deteriorated correspondingly and who cannot cope alone at home.

THL also recommended a fifth dose of the coronavirus vaccine for those with severe immune deficiencies.

THL plans to recommend the extension of fourth doses of coronavirus vaccines in the late summer. A final recommendation will be ready by the beginning of August.

According to the updated coronavirus vaccine strategy of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the goal of coronavirus vaccines is to reduce the risk of severe disease and to prevent deaths.

Coronavirus vaccines provide protection against both coronavirus infections and the severe form of the disease, but the protection against infection weakens much faster than protection against a severe form of the disease.

With the omicron variant, the protective effect against an infection is moderate and short-term at best, but against a severe form of the disease, it is good at the very least, and lasts for several months.

Factors affecting the risk of an individual contracting a severe form of coronavirus disease, include age and underlying diseases, immunity protection against a severe case of coronavirus disease, as well as the current and future epidemic situation.

“Reducing severe forms of the disease is important both from a human, and a societal point of view. Effective use of vaccines protects the most vulnerable, avoids placing excess burden on the health care system, and frees up nurses to handle other matters”, said THL Chief Physician Hanna Nohynek.

“Healthy persons under the age of 60 continue to be well protected against severe coronavirus disease, even if the protective effect of the vaccines might decline slightly”, Nohynek observed.

On 11 July 2022 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC and the European Medicines Agency EMA urged member states to consider administering fourth coronavirus vaccinations to all those aged 60 and above and to members of risk groups, noting that national authorities are making their own recommendations and that authorities making final decisions on the use of coronavirus vaccines consider the epidemiological situations of their countries.

“We are still looking into the background information of the ECDC and EMA guidelines. The coronavirus situation in Finland is currently relatively calm and we monitor the figures daily. Recommendations can be changed quickly, if necessary”, Nohynek added.