Helsinki offers free influenza vaccinations to groups recommended by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Vaccinations are free of charge for the risk groups defined by THL. For seasonal vaccinations, we follow THL’s recommendations and schedule, which will be confirmed later.
Generally healthy individuals under the age of 65 who do not have underlying health conditions that increase the risk of severe influenza are not eligible for a free influenza vaccination. If you wish, you can get vaccinated at your own expense at a private clinic, through occupational health care, or at a pharmacy.
Who belongs to the risk groups?
Influenza vaccination is recommended for the following groups:
- People aged 65 and over
- Pregnant people
- Children under 7 years old
- Individuals at risk due to illness or treatment. See the detailed description of risk groups on the THL website (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
- Those beginning military or voluntary military service
- Social welfare, health care and pharmaceutical staff (receive the vaccination via occupational health care)
- Close contacts of people who are particularly vulnerable to severe influenza. See the THL website for more information on close contacts (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Vaccinations in institutions, home care, maternity clinics, and school and student health care
Hospitals, senior centres, service homes and home care services, as well as maternity clinics, schools and educational institutions in Helsinki, are responsible for vaccinating their own clients.
- Hospital wards, senior centres and service homes in Helsinki administer vaccinations to their own clients.
- Clients receiving home care and their informal carers who fall within the vaccination recommendations will receive the vaccine through home care services.
- Home care services will contact eligible clients to arrange the vaccinations, including clients receiving outsourced home care services.
- This group will receive their vaccinations in October–November 2025.
- Pregnant people and children aged 6 months to 6 years will receive the influenza vaccination during health check-ups or by separate appointment between 27 October 2025 and 30 January 2026.
- Appointments open on 8 October in Maisa and by phone at +358 9 310 55530(Link starts a phone call) , Mon–Fri at 8.00–14.00.
- From 20 October onwards, those eligible for the influenza vaccination can enquire about an appointment from the nurse at their own educational institution or from the Centralised Unit of Student Health Care, tel. +358 40 6624166(Link starts a phone call)
- Students eligible for the influenza vaccination will be vaccinated at their own school.
- The school nurse will provide information on the vaccination schedule in a separate notice. Please follow your school’s vaccination updates.
