Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for the risk groups in Helsinki

Helsinki offers free-of-charge vaccinations to those at risk of severe influenza or COVID-19, in line with the recommendations issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Vaccinations provide protection especially against severe forms of the disease.

See the groups eligible for free vaccinations.

Health stations’ COVID-19 and influenza vaccination weeks have ended. Health stations may still have some vaccination appointments available. All vaccination appointments available for booking are shown in the Maisa service (www.maisa.fi). If you cannot use Maisa, you can call your health station’s phone number.

How to book an appointment using Maisa

If you have been infected with coronavirus this autumn, you will not need a booster dose during autumn or winter 2024–2025. If necessary, the vaccine can be administered for a special reason based on individual consideration. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommends that the vaccination will not be received earlier than 6 months after having had the disease.

Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge. Bring your Kela card or ID card when you arrive for your vaccination. 

Elderly clients of care services 

Helsinki’s hospital inpatient wards, senior centres and service homes vaccinate their own clients. Home care clients, as well as their informal caregiver eligible for vaccination, can receive the vaccinations from the home care services. Home care will be in contact with its clients and take care of their vaccinations. This also applies to clients of purchased home care services.  Vaccinations will be administered to people in this group starting from the end of August or the beginning of September.

Customers of maternity and child health clinics, school and student health care 

Customers of maternity and child health clinics, school and student health care will receive their vaccinations from their respective maternity and child health clinic, school and student health care services. 

Influenza vaccinations at the maternity and child health clinics

In the autumn, maternity and child health clinics will offer influenza vaccines to all pregnant clients and children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years during their regular health check visits.

COVID-19 vaccinations at the maternity and child health clinics

Pregnant Helsinki residents are offered booster rounds of the COVID-19 vaccine at Ruoholahti and Malmi Centralised Maternity and Child Health Clinic Service. You can book a vaccination appointment through the telephone service of the maternity and child health clinic, tel. +358 9 310 55530 Mon–Fri at 8–14.

Children between the ages of 6 months and 15 years with severe immune insufficiency are offered COVID-19 booster vaccines at Ruoholahti and Malmi Centralised Maternity and Child Health Clinic Service. You can book a vaccination appointment through the telephone service of the maternity and child health clinic tel. +358 9 310 55530 Mon–Fri at 8–14.

Student health care customers

Students who are severely immune insufficient can inquire about the COVID-19 vaccinations from the Central Unit of Student Health Care, tel. +358 50 310 5547.

The vaccinations offered by student health care will begin starting from 11 November.

Influenza vaccinations in school health care

School health care administers influenza vaccinations to pupils who belong to a risk group due to their illness or treatment.

The vaccinations will begin in schools starting from 18 November. The schedule of vaccinations may vary slightly between different schools. For more information about vaccinations at your school, contact your school nurse.

Social services, health care and pharmaceutical staff 

Social services, health care and pharmaceutical staff receive the influenza vaccine primarily through their own occupational health care. 

For social services and health care employees, a late fall booster coronavirus vaccine is only recommended if they are eligible for the booster dose because of their age or an underlying medical condition. There is no medical basis for booster doses for all social services and health care professionals.