Govt proposes new vaccine research company

The government is proposing corporatisation of the commercial vaccine research services of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The plan is to merge the Vaccine Research Centre of Tampere University with the new vaccine research company with the view to strengthen clinical vaccine research expertise in Finland, said a THL press release on Friday.

If approved, the proposed act will enter into force on 1 January 2021. The aim is for the limited liability company to start operating in early 2021.

According to the legislative proposal, the funding, operations, and personnel involved in THL’s vaccine studies that are carried out in cooperation with vaccine manufacturers would be transferred to a separate limited liability company as existing resources.

The arrangement will strengthen THL’s independence in decisions regarding vaccine procurement.

THL’s vaccine research services are currently part of the Public Health Solutions Department. The transferred services would not include THL’s statutory duties.

The national vaccination programme, the procurement of vaccines and the monitoring of vaccine-preventable diseases will still be carried on by THL’s Health Security Department. A maximum of 10 person-years of permanent staff are planned to be transferred to the new company.

The government plenary session and the Board of Tampere University Foundation will jointly decide on the matters related to the establishment of the company.