The bird flu vaccine protects against severe illness caused by bird flu viruses. Vaccination also helps prevent the virus from mutating into a form that could spread between people, thereby reducing the risk of a pandemic.
All individuals aged 18 and over with an increased risk of avian influenza infection because of their work or other factors are eligible for the free vaccine.
Who belongs to the risk group?
- People working on fur farms who have contact with fur animals.
- People working on poultry farms who handle poultry (excluding slaughterhouse workers).
- Those involved in handling, disposing of, or cleaning up after sick or dead birds or animals, such as employees at animal by-product processing plants.
- Bird ringers.
- Owners of hobby poultry farms and their family members involved in caring for the birds.
- Employees of bird shelters caring for wild birds.
- Staff of animal farms and bird aviaries.
- Official veterinarians.
- Laboratory workers handling avian influenza virus or samples that may contain it.
- Individuals who have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of avian influenza.
The greatest risk of infection is associated with premises and enclosures where livestock, cared-for animals, or birds may come into contact with wild birds or their droppings. If such contact does not occur, vaccination of staff is not necessary.
The vaccination series consists of two doses. The second dose is administered at least three weeks after the first. The vaccine used is the Zoonotic Influenza Vaccine Seqirus.
Read more about avian influenza on the THL website (in Finnish(Link leads to external service) )
How to book an appointment for vaccination
You can only book an appointment for the avian influenza vaccination by calling your local health station, as vaccines are ordered based on appointments.
Each health station has its own phone number, which you can find on the health station’s website. Find your health station
Phone service opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 8.00–16.00
- Fridays and the day before public holidays, 8.00–15.00
If the lines are busy, you can leave a callback request. We aim to call back on the same day between 8.00 and 16.00. If we do not reach you the first time, we will call again. Callbacks may also take place on weekends between 8.00 and 16.00.
Please bring your Kela card or ID card to the vaccination.
Huomioi, että käyttämättömästä ja peruuttamattomasta ajasta perimme sakkomaksun yli 18-vuotiailta. Lue lisää, miten voit perua ajan
