Helsinki will start administering COVID-19 vaccinations to pupils in grades 1–5 at schools in week 3. The principal will provide a more detailed school-specific vaccination schedule later. The vaccinations at schools will not require advance registration.
The vaccination will be provided at schools to everyone in grades 1–5 regardless of their municipality of residence. Booster shots will also be administered at the schools after 6 weeks. We will issue a separate notification on booster shots.
If your child has undergone a laboratory test and been diagnosed with a coronavirus infection, we recommend that they not be administered a booster shot earlier than 6 months after the verified infection.
"It is important that we get vaccine coverage high in this age group as well, so that children can continue their contact education and participate in events and opportunities that are important to them. It is now really easy to get the vaccine during the school day”, says Medical Director of Health Stations Timo Lukkarinen.
The guardians’ permission is needed for the vaccination
All guardians’ permission is needed for the vaccination. Guardians can give their consent to the COVID-19 vaccination by filling out this form(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish). The guardians can give their consent with separate forms.
Single parents can sign the form alone. If a minor has more than one guardian, all guardians who have the right to decide on the child’s health care must give their consent. If the guardians’ authority over the child’s health care is limited or has been transferred to another party, all those who have the right to decide on the child’s health care must give their consent.
COVID-19 vaccinations are also administered at Itäkatu or Kallio Family Centre
If the pupil is not at school at the time of their scheduled vaccination, they can be vaccinated later by appointment at Itäkatu or Kallio Family Centre. In that case, the vaccination requires booking an appointment.
The easiest way to book an appointment is to visit bookcovidvaccine.fi(Link leads to external service) or call the appointment booking number 09 310 46300 (weekdays 8:00–18:00).
Children are given mRNA vaccinations
Children aged 5–11 are vaccinated with the BioNTech-Pfizer Comirnaty 10 µg/dose vaccine intended for this age group. For more information about vaccines, please visit the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)(Link leads to external service). Getting vaccinated is voluntary and free of charge.
Further information:
- THL - Coronavirus vaccinations for children and young people(Link leads to external service)
- Vaccination of Helsinkians - coronavaccination-en.hel.fi
Picture: Virpi Velin