Who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination?
Who belong to the target groups for COVID-19 vaccinations in autumn 2026?
The target groups for COVID-19 vaccinations in autumn 2026 are the following:
- Older people living in care homes or receiving regular home care, as well as older people receiving informal care
- Everyone aged 75 and over
- Severely immunocompromised people of all ages
- People aged 18 and over with two or more underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Read about the risk groups for severe COVID-19 disease on the THL website: Risk groups for severe COVID-19 disease – THL (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
What are the target groups for the COVID-19 vaccinations based on?
The target groups for COVID-19 vaccinations are based on the recommendations of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Read more on the THL website: Risk groups for severe COVID-19 disease – THL (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Is vaccination free for care home residents as well?
Yes, it is. The wards at Helsinki City Hospital, senior centres and service homes in Helsinki will handle the vaccination of their own clients. Home care clients who are unable to visit a health station to be vaccinated will receive their vaccination through home care.
I have no underlying medical conditions. Can I still be vaccinated against COVID-19?
If you have no underlying medical conditions, are over 18 years of age and have not previously received any COVID-19 vaccines, we recommend the single-dose primary series.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, we only administer booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to people with no underlying medical conditions if they are at least 75 years of age.
How do I book or cancel an appointment?
When will the booking of vaccination appointments at health stations and maternity and child health clinics open?
For people aged 65 and over, appointment booking for vaccination at health stations will open on 22 September via Maisa and on 23 September via a dedicated telephone service for vaccination bookings on +358 9 310 463 00 (Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00).
For people under 65, appointment booking for vaccination at health stations will open on 7 October via Maisa and the dedicated telephone service for vaccination bookings on +358 9 310 463 00 (Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00).
Vaccination appointment booking for maternity and child health clinic clients will open on 7 October via Maisa and the clinics’ appointment booking telephone number +358 9 310 555 30 (Mon–Fri 8.00–14.00).
Do I need to book an appointment for a vaccination?
If you are going to a health station to be vaccinated, you must book an appointment for the vaccination.
The maternity and child health clinic provides COVID-19 vaccinations centrally at the Kamppi Maternity and Child Health Clinic and by appointment only. You can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment by phone only at 09 310 55530 (Mon–Fri 8.00–14.00).
Schoolchildren who belong to the target group for COVID-19 vaccination can receive the vaccine by appointment at the Centralised School Health Care Clinic. For more information, contact the school nurse at your school.
In student health care, COVID-19 vaccinations are provided by appointment at the Centralised Unit of Student Health Care. Contact the nurse at your educational institution, who can book the appointment.
The wards at Helsinki City Hospital, senior centres and service homes in Helsinki vaccinate their own clients. These client groups do not need to book an appointment for vaccination.
Home care will vaccinate those home care clients and people receiving informal care who are unable to visit a health station to be vaccinated. These client groups do not need to book an appointment for vaccination.
How do I cancel an appointment for a vaccination?
You can cancel your vaccination appointment in the Maisa app or at maisa.fi. You must cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment. Please note that there is a charge of EUR 60.60 for any unused and uncancelled appointments for anyone over the age of 18.
- If you are unable to cancel your appointment in Maisa, you can cancel a health station appointment by calling +358 9 310 46300, Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00.
- You can cancel an appointment at a maternity and child health clinic by calling the appointment booking number +358 9 3105 5530 on weekdays 8.00–14.00 (callback service available on weekdays 8.00–16.00).
How do I book a vaccination appointment at a health station?
We recommend that you book your appointment primarily through the Maisa app or online at maisa.fi.
If you are unable to use Maisa, you can book an appointment by calling the separate appointment booking number +358 9 310 46300 (weekdays 8.00–16.00).
We will open appointment booking for vaccinations at health stations in stages:
- Appointment booking for people aged 65 and over will open on 22 September in Maisa and on 23 September by phone.
- Appointment booking for people under 65 will open on 7 October in Maisa and by phone.
At which health station can I book a vaccination appointment?
You can book a vaccination appointment at a health station in your health station area via Maisa or by calling the dedicated telephone service for vaccination bookings on +358 9 310 463 00 (Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00).
We will offer vaccinations at the following health stations:
Eastern health station area
- Kivikko, Kontula, Myllypuro and Vuosaari Health Stations
Central health station area
- Kalasatama and Laajasalo Health Stations
City centre health station area
- Kivelä and Lauttasaari Health Stations
North-eastern health station area
- Jakomäki, Malmi, Puistola and Suutarila Health Stations
Western health station area
- Haaga, Kannelmäki, Malminkartano, Munkkiniemi and Pitäjänmäki Health Stations
Northern health station area
- Maunula, Oulunkylä, Paloheinä and Pihlajamäki Health Stations
How do I book a vaccination appointment at a maternity and child health clinic?
The maternity and child health clinic provides COVID-19 vaccinations centrally at the Kamppi Maternity and Child Health Clinic and by appointment only. You can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment by phone only, on +358 9 310 55530, Mon–Fri 8.00–14.00.
Can I book a vaccination appointment for my partner online?
You can book a vaccination appointment for your partner online if you and your partner have signed an agreement on acting on behalf of another person in Maisa.
Read more about acting on behalf of another person in Maisa(Link leads to external service).
If you have made an agreement on acting on behalf of another person with a written authorisation, you can also book a vaccination appointment by phone on +358 9 310 46300, Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00. Read more about making a written authorisation: Acting on behalf of a child or an adult relative at health stations
How do I book a vaccination appointment for my child?
A guardian can book a vaccination appointment on behalf of their child. You can book the appointment via Maisa or by phone.
Read more about acting on behalf of a child:
- Can I act on behalf of my underage child?(Link leads to external service)
- Acting on behalf of a child or an adult relative at health stations
If I fall ill before my vaccination appointment, what should I do?
Please do not come to your vaccination appointment if you are ill. If you fall ill, cancel or reschedule your appointment in Maisa.
If you are unable to use Maisa, you can cancel or postpone your appointment
- at a health station by calling +358 9 310 46300 on weekdays 8.00–16.00. There is no callback feature in the phone service.
- at a maternity and child health clinic by calling +358 9 310 55530 on weekdays 8.00–14.00.
Please note that there is a charge of EUR 60.60 for any unused and uncancelled appointments for anyone over the age of 18.
Where and when can I get a COVID-19 vaccination?
Where can I get vaccinated against COVID-19?
We administer COVID-19 vaccines at health stations to people who belong to the target group for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The maternity and child health clinic will vaccinate pregnant people and children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years who are in the target group for the COVID-19 vaccine centrally at the Kamppi Maternity and Child Health Clinic and by appointment only.
School health care will vaccinate students who are in the target group for the COVID-19 vaccine at the Centralised School Health Care Clinic, located at Helsinginkatu 25 (2nd floor). The vaccines will be administered by appointment only.
Student health care will vaccinate those students who are in the target group for the COVID-19 vaccine by appointment at the Centralised Unit of Student Health Care (Lintulahdenkatu 10, 7th floor). You can enquire about vaccination appointments from the school nurse at your educational institution.
The wards at Helsinki City Hospitals, senior centres and service homes in Helsinki vaccinate their own clients.
Home care will vaccinate those clients who are unable to visit a health station to be vaccinated.
When can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the health station?
We will administer vaccines in stages between 6 October and 20 November 2026.
We will vaccinate
- people over the age of 75 from 6 October onwards
- people under the age of 75 from 19 October onwards.
Can I get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time at the health station?
If you belong to the target groups for both vaccinations, you will receive the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time.
Can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the health station or maternity and child health clinic during another appointment?
Health stations will offer COVID-19 vaccinations to people in the target groups during their other appointments as well.
Children and pregnant people belonging to the target groups for COVID-19 vaccination receive their vaccinations at the Kamppi Maternity and Child Health Clinic Service and by appointment only.
Can I get vaccinated at home?
If you are a home care client and are unable to visit a health station to be vaccinated, home care will vaccinate you. Home care will inform you of your vaccination appointment. Your informal caregiver can also be vaccinated at the same time if they are in the target group for vaccination.
Home care will also vaccinate those receiving informal care who are not registered as home care clients and who are unable to visit a health station to be vaccinated. If necessary, please contact your client advisor.
How do residents of private care homes or senior centres receive their vaccinations?
Private care homes and senior centres whose accommodation is not covered by Helsinki’s agreements have the option of ordering influenza vaccines directly from HUS Pharmacy and vaccinating their own residents. If the private care home or senior centre where you live does not vaccinate its residents, you can book an appointment at your nearest health station.
I am a Helsinki resident, but I will not be in Helsinki during the vaccination weeks. Can I get vaccinated somewhere else?
If you wish, you can check with the health station where you are staying to see if you can get vaccinated there. If you cannot be vaccinated there, we recommend that you come to get vaccinated at your local health station in Helsinki during the designated vaccination weeks.
I belong to a target group, but I am not a Helsinki resident. Can I get vaccinated in Helsinki?
We vaccinate only those people belonging to the target groups for COVID-19 vaccination who have chosen Helsinki’s health care services as their health service provider (link to the freedom of choice web page: Freedom of choice | City of Helsinki). We also vaccinate people who are staying in Helsinki for a long period of time.
How do I prepare for my vaccination?
Can I use a Kela taxi to travel to my vaccination appointment?
For information on using Kela taxis, please visit the Kela website: Booking a Kela taxi (Kela)(Link leads to external service)
What should I do at the place of vaccination?
When you come for your vaccination, bring your Kela card or ID with you. Wear clothes that allow you to easily expose your upper arm. Be prepared to stay on the premises for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine so that any reactions can be observed.
I have had a reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine in the past. What should I do?
Book a daytime vaccination appointment (8.00–15.00) in Maisa or by phone. When you arrive for your vaccination, tell the nurse about your previous reaction. Usually, you can still get vaccinated. If you have previously had a severe allergic reaction, i.e. an anaphylactic reaction, to a COVID-19 vaccine, you cannot receive the vaccine.
My family member and I are both in the risk group. Can we get vaccinated at the same time at the health station?
Everyone must book their own vaccination appointment and arrive at the appointed time.
If you and your family member are in the same age group and you live in the same health station area, you can book vaccination appointments close to each other on the same day and at the same health station in Maisa.
Can I do sports or exercise after receiving a vaccine?
After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, you should exercise as you feel able. If you experience an elevated body temperature, a fever or a general feeling of being unwell after the vaccination, it is advisable to avoid exercise while these symptoms persist.
The COVID-19 vaccine is administered by intramuscular injection. After the vaccination, you should carefully consider whether to take part in any physical activity that puts a heavy strain on the muscle into which the vaccine was injected. Straining the muscle may cause local symptoms in the injection area.
What should I know about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Why should I get vaccinated against COVID-19?
The COVID-19 vaccine protects especially those who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill.
Which COVID-19 vaccine is being used?
We have Comirnaty vaccines for different age groups, as well as Hipra’s Bimervax vaccine for anyone over the age of 12 who is unable to receive the Comirnaty vaccine due to a severe allergy or other medical reasons. You can find more detailed information about the composition of the vaccines in Finnish and Swedish on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL):
COVID-19 vaccines – THL (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
You may be eligible for the Bimervax COVID-19 vaccine if you belong to the target group for the COVID-19 vaccine and have not contracted COVID-19 or received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot this autumn. Additionally, you have a serious allergy or other medical reason due to which you cannot have the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. Those in the target group for the Bimervax vaccine must book their vaccination appointment by telephone.
Can someone with an egg allergy receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any egg protein. An egg allergy is not a contraindication for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
What side effects does the COVID-19 vaccine have?
The most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are local reactions at the injection site, such as pain, swelling, redness or warmth.
Other very common side effects include general symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, irritability and shivering. Swelling of the lymph nodes may also occur near the injection site.
For more information on the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) website: Koronarokotteet - THL (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Can I still get COVID-19 after getting vaccinated?
The protection against infection provided by current COVID-19 vaccines is limited and short-lived. However, vaccinated people usually have milder symptoms and recover more quickly. The main purpose of vaccination is to protect against severe forms of COVID-19.