More health care professionals to vaccinating, vaccinations to be offered to people aged 5 years or over

From now on, biomedical laboratory scientists and practical nurses will be entitled to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations will be offered to people who are 5 years of age or older, and the order of vaccination priority will be abandoned. On Wednesday 22 December, the Government decided to amend sections 2 and 3 of the Government Decree on Voluntary COVID-19 Vaccinations.

As a result, biomedical laboratory scientists (biomedical training at a university of applied sciences) and practical nurses with a vocational qualification in health and social services and practical nurses with the earlier equivalent vocational qualification will be entitled to administer vaccinations. The amendment will ensure efficient administration of coronavirus vaccines. A precondition for administering COVID-19 vaccines is that the professionals mentioned above have sufficient knowledge of pharmacotherapy and appropriate vaccination training. 

A new group comprising people that are 5–11 years of age will be added to the Decree. From now on, vaccinations will be offered to people aged 5 years or more. 

The order of vaccination priority will be removed from the Decree. The priority order was laid down in 2020, when only a limited number of vaccines were available at a given time. Appropriate vaccination of the most vulnerable groups will continue to be ensured in accordance with the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

The amended decree will enter into force on 23 December 2021.

Inquiries: 

Liisa Katajamäki, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social, [email protected]
Eila Mustonen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] (administration of vaccines)