Supply shortage delays influenza vaccination at Helsinki maternity, child health clinics

Influenza vaccinations at maternity and child health clinics will begin partly later than planned this autumn, due to delays in vaccine deliveries, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Friday.

Pregnant people and children aged from 6 months to 2 years will be provided the influenza vaccine during their check-ups from 16 November 2026 onwards.

The original plan was to start administering influenza vaccinations to all maternity and child health clinic clients during their check-ups in late October.

Maternity and child health clinics provide free influenza vaccinations to pregnant women and children aged from 6 months to 6 years during check-ups and by separate appointment during the clinics’ vaccination weeks.

The clinics’ vaccination weeks were also postponed. The vaccination weeks will take place from 16 to 27 November, instead of previous schedule from November 2 to November 13.

Most of the appointments scheduled between 2 and 13 November have already been rescheduled to the week beginning on 16 November.

If people have booked appointments for the influenza vaccination between 2 and 13 November and the appointments have not been rescheduled, they do not have to do anything.

The maternity and child health clinic will contact them if their booked appointments need to be rescheduled.

Appointment booking for the maternity and child health clinics’ vaccination weeks is now available via Maisa and by calling the appointment booking number during the weekdays from 8.00 am. to 2:00 p.m.

Some of the influenza vaccines ordered will arrive in Finland later than usual this autumn. The delays are affecting all of Europe and are due to a slowdown in the vaccine production process.