Vaccination of 16-24 age group begins in Helsinki

Helsinki will begin vaccinating local residents belonging to the 16-24 age group from next week, according to the City of Helsinki.

The booking of vaccination appointments 20–24-year-olds will open on Monday (21 June) and for 20–24-year-olds on Wednesday (23 June), said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Friday.

People can make a vaccination appointment online or over phone.

Vaccinations are being carried out at the vaccination points in Jätkäsaari, Messukeskus, Malmi and Myllypuro.

Vaccines will be administered in Helsinki without delay as they become available. At the moment, about 350,000 Helsinki residents have received their first vaccine jab.

“It’s very important that we now get to vaccinate younger age groups. This is important in preventing the epidemic and possible virus mutations coming from abroad”, said Timo Carpén, medical director of Helsinki.

The City of Helsinki uses two different vaccines. People aged 16–64-year-old are currently being given the Pfizer vaccine.

At present, people aged 65 years old and over are vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine or, if they wish, the Pfizer vaccine. The selection can be made via both online and telephone appointments. The specific type of vaccine cannot be chosen at the vaccination point.

Two shots of the vaccines are administered. The Pfizer jabs will be administered at an interval of 12 weeks, in accordance with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s recommendation.

The interval for AstraZeneca doses can be shortened to 8 weeks. Shortening the dose interval does not apply to Pfizer. Vaccination is free and voluntary for everyone.