Frequently asked questions about influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations
On this page, you can find answers to frequently asked questions about influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact your own health centre.
Influenza vaccinations
Check out the frequently asked questions about the influenza vaccinations on the THL website: Frequently asked about influenza vaccinations (thl.fi, in Finnish).
COVID-19 vaccinations
Vaccinations will not be given during a febrile infection. However, there are no obstacles to vaccination in mild symptoms of respiratory illness. In health care premises, you can wear a mask to reduce infectiousness. If the COVID-19 infection has been diagnosed by a test, see the question and answer below (I have had COVID-19. When can I take a COVID-19 vaccine?)
You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 three (3) months after having had COVID-19.
If you have had the coronavirus disease in autumn or winter 2023-2024, you do not need a booster dose this season for protection purposes. Your history of the disease has given you excellent protection against severe coronavirus disease.
If the decision to administer the vaccine is made for a specific reason, it is possible to administer the vaccine on an individual basis no earlier than three (3) months after the illness.
The COVID-19 vaccine will not harm you if you have had COVID-19 without knowing it.
If you suspect a COVID-19 infection and know that you belong to a risk group of Paxlovid medication due to your underlying medical conditions, you should take a home test.
If the test is positive, or if the test is negative, but there is a strong suspicion of a COVID-19 infection, please contact your own health centre by phone.
You do not need to get tested for COVID-19 if you do not belong to a serious risk group for COVID-19. Those not in the risk group suffer from the disease at home like in the case of other respiratory tract infections.
Most people infected with COVID-19 stay at home while sick as with other respiratory tract infections. Contact with your own health centre, if you have breathing difficulties or a lowered general fitness level, or if the illness persists.
Self-care of respiratory tract infections (terveyskyla.fi, in Finnish)
Most up-to-date information on risk groups: Vaccines and coronavirus (thl.fi).
At the moment, there is no general recommendation on wearing a face mask.
If you are ill and need to go outside your home, you can wear a mask and, if possible, keep your distance especially in indoor public spaces and transport. A face mask prevents droplets from spreading to the environment. When using a face mask, you protect others from infection. Keeping a safe distance helps protect both you and other people from the infection, for example those belonging to risk groups. Depending on the type of mask, the mask also protects the person wearing it to some extent.
You can use a face mask, for example, in crowded indoor spaces.
You can take both vaccinations and they are also recommended for you.
If you are currently receiving medicines that lower your immune system, such as cytostatics, consult your healthcare unit about a suitable vaccination time. Health centres have the possibility to influence the timing of vaccinations so that it is suitable for cancer treatment.
See also the frequently asked questions about the coronavirus vaccinations on the THL website: Questions about coronavirus vaccinations (thl.fi, in Finnish).
Booking and cancelling an appointment
As a rule, people from Southwest Finland receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations in their own municipality of residence. You can book a COVID-19 and influenza vaccination by phone or online. Some municipalities also organise vaccination events without an appointment. Municipal practices vary in Southwest Finland. See the instructions for booking appointments in your municipality in the attached links.
Influenza vaccinations:
- Influenza vaccinations for people aged 65 and above
- Influenza vaccinations for children aged from 6 months to 6 years
- Influenza vaccinations for pupils and students
- Influenza vaccinations for pregnant women
- Influenza vaccinations for working-age people
COVID-19 vaccinations:
Contact your health centre through the booking channels of your own municipality.
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are mainly given in your municipality of residence/at your own health centre.