Coronavirus vaccines arrive, vaccination begins Sunday

The first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine arrived in Finland on Saturday and the vaccination will begin on Sunday, media reported quoting the Finnish institute for Health and Welfare (THL),

A total of 9,750 doses of vaccines arrived in the first batch and about 5,000 people will get the vaccine as the vaccine requires two doses, reported National broadcaster Yle, quoting a THL specialist.

The healthcare and social welfare workers, people above 70 years, and persons at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease are on the priority list to get the coronavirus vaccines, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Earlier, the government on Tuesday issued a decree on vaccinations to deploy the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Finland.

Municipalities are responsible for organising the vaccinations. The THL is responsible for delivering the vaccines to the municipalities and for providing them with expert assistance.

The healthcare and social welfare workers who examine or directly treat and care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 disease or who provide other kinds of urgent care, and workers and residents in care homes for older adults are among the vaccine priority groups.

All the people of 70 years of age and older will also be in the priority groups together with persons at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease due to underlying health conditions.

Final priority order depends on the characteristics and intended use of authorised vaccines.

The vaccination data must be transmitted to the Finnish National Vaccination Register maintained by the THL in real time.