Coronavirus vaccine to be offered to all 12-15-year-olds in Finland

Coronavirus vaccines will be offered to all children and young people aged 12–15 in Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health announced in a press release.

The Government amended the decree on voluntary Covid-19 vaccinations accordingly on Thursday 5 August, and the amendments will enter into force on 9 August 2021. 

Children and young people will be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine.

This is the only vaccine currently in use in Finland that is authorised for use in people 12 years of age or older. Comirnaty is an mRNA vaccine.

"We have received an extra batch of approximately 200,000 doses of vaccine in Finland, from which these vaccinations can be started without interfering with other vaccination programmes," Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) told the Finnish broadcasting company (YLE).

According to government information, a minor can make the decision on whether to get vaccinated if the healthcare professional administering the vaccine determines that, based on their age and level of development, they are able to make that decision.

Vaccination is voluntary

If a young person does not want to or is not able to make the decision, administering the vaccine requires the consent of the parents or guardians. Vaccination against Covid-19 is voluntary.

Vaccinations can be carried out, at the discretion of the regional authorities, for example in schools or in connection with the mass vaccination of the adult population.

So far, Covid-19 vaccines have been available to all people over 16 years of age and to people 12–15 years of age who belong to medical risk groups.