Coronavirus vaccinations for children and young people

• THL recommends a third dose of coronavirus vaccine for at-risk 12- to 17-year-olds. The appointments are for booking for 12- to 17-year-olds at the COVID-19 vaccination helpline tel. +358 2 266 0159 (Mon–Fri 8–14). 16-17 years old can book a vaccination time also from the eTerveyspalvelut service at turku.fi/eterveyspalvelut (in Finnish).  All 12- to 17-year-olds can apply for a third coronavirus vaccine without an appointment. 

  The third dose of coronavirus vaccine is given six months after the second vaccination to 12- to 17-year-olds who belong to risk groups for severe coronavirus disease. For severely immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older, a third dose is recommended 3 to 4 months after the previous dose of vaccine or disease. Read more: Coronavirus vaccinations for children and young people (THL)
  
  A third vaccine dose may also be administered six months after the second dose of coronavirus vaccine to other people aged 12−17 if this is necessary for a specific reason, for example, for travelling.

• Minors and schoolchildren that are turning 12 can get a vaccination appointment from the Vaccination Reception (Satakunnantie 105, buses 2A, 2B, 6, 60 and 7, bus stop Varkkavuorenkatu 473).

• It is recommended that the guardians fill in a form of consent. If needed, a minor can decide on the vaccination independently if the health care professional giving the vaccination assesses that his/her age and development level allow him/her to decide on the vaccination. If an adolescent is not willing or capable to decide on the vaccination independently, the consent of both guardians is always required for a coronavirus vaccination. you can find the consent form in the info box.

• Children and young people will be offered the BioNTech-Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine or the Moderna Spikevax vaccine. These are the only vaccines currently in use in Finland that are conditionally authorised for use in people 12 years of age or older. Both vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

• Positive COVID-19 home test results are not entered in Kanta. A certificate of recovery from COVID-19 can only be issued on the basis of a laboratory-confirmed PCR test.

• In order to vaccinate a child, a guardian or both guardians' consent is required either in writing or orally on the location. Guardian's consent to the vaccination of an underage person for coronavirus (PDF, in Finnish)

What needs to be considered when coming to get vaccinated?

• Only come without corona symptoms
• Maintain good hand hygiene
• Use a facemask
• Bring a consent form signed by your guardians
• Take your Kela card with you
• Wear a shirt that is easy to take off
• After the vaccination you should be prepared to wait at the vaccination site for 15 minutes

Safety measures against coronavirus must continue even after vaccination

• After vaccination, the customer receives patient instructions on what to do after vaccination and who to contact in case of problems.  
•  At the time of the first dose, the patient is informed about the timing of the second dose.
•  Even after you have been vaccinated, it is important to keep a safety distance, wear a mask, take care of hand and coughing hygiene, get tested when experiencing symptoms and follow other regulations to prevent the spreading of coronavirus.