COVID-19 vaccinations were started quickly. In the first week after Christmas 2020, almost a thousand Helsinki healthcare professionals received the vaccine. Residents of four senior centres were also vaccinated.
“As soon as vaccines arrive, they are administered. According to the current estimate, the vaccination of professionals, nursing staff and residents working with COVID-19 patients and other critical healthcare and social welfare staff will probably take all January,” said Leena Turpeinen, Director of Health and Substance Abuse Services, at the beginning of 2021.
Vaccines for persons over the age of 85
COVID-19 vaccination of people over the age of 85 and their families started in February 2021. People could book vaccination appointments at koronarokotus.hel.fi or by calling the appointment number. The electronic appointment booking was common to all the municipalities of Uusimaa. Vaccinations were initially given in Jätkäsaari, Malmi and Myllypuro.
“We are proceeding in the order of vaccination specified in the national guidelines,” said Timo Lukkarinen, Medical Director of Health Stations at the time.
Sari Roos invents remarkable technique
In 2021, a nursing instructor at Helsinki City Hospital named Sari Roos invented a technique for extracting up to 40% more COVID-19 vaccine from vaccine vials, which was a significant help in the fight against COVID-19. The invention gained her an innovation prize, a medal and an invitation to the Independence Day Ball at the Presidential Palace, as well as international and domestic attention.
When Sari Roos was administering COVID-19 vaccinations, she noticed leftovers of vaccine in the syringes and vials when extracting and injecting the vaccine. Vaccine was being thrown away.
“I immediately realised how to eliminate the injection phase loss,” Sari said at the time, and after a couple of days of thinking, she understood how to eliminate the loss when extracting vaccine from the vial. This started the process of putting into practice an innovation that received much praise.
Fourth vaccination point opens in Messukeskus
In February 2021, Helsinki opened a fourth vaccination point at the Messukeskus exhibition and convention centre in Pasila. At the time, Helsinki residents aged 80 and over and their family caregivers could book appointments for COVID-19 vaccination.
In 2021 and 2022, vaccinations gradually expanded to cover the entire adult population and children over the age of 5. In the end, the recommendation for adults under the age of 60 was three vaccine doses.
Pop-up vaccination points in different parts of Helsinki
From July 2021, Helsinki residents were also offered COVID-19 vaccinations at temporary pop-up points, which were erected in railway stations and shopping centres, for example.
The first vaccine dose could be conveniently received without an appointment at either pop-up points or fixed vaccination points. An appointment was still required for booster vaccination.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people in Helsinki to get the vaccine, so we are opening pop-up vaccination points in places where the city residents go,” said Medical Director Timo Carpén in July 2021.
Best customer service in Finland
The activities of the medical staff responsible for COVID-19 vaccination in municipalities and cities were recognised as the best customer service in Finland at the Global CX Day 2021 event in October 2021.
The award was justified as follows: “Despite the difficult task, the healthcare staff in Finland have performed this unusual and demanding task very smoothly and efficiently, maintaining a thoroughly excellent vaccination process from the client experience to the actual procedure.”
The award was received by the Chief Nursing Officers of Helsinki health stations, Tiia Järvenpää and Mia Rönn.
“This is an important recognition for organising COVID-19 vaccinations in Finland and Helsinki. I would like to thank all those who participated in this valuable work in all Finnish municipalities,” Mia Rönn said at the time.
Children at risk vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccinations of children at risk aged 5–11 started in December 2021 in Helsinki. Groups at risk have a disease or condition that can increase their risk of severe coronavirus disease, or a COVID-19 infection could worsen the symptoms of their pre-existing health problem.
Children at risk include those who have had an organ transplant or have diabetes or asthma that requires permanent medication.
Vaccination capacity increases
At the beginning of January 2022, Helsinki established a fifth vaccination point in Messukeskus, where vaccinations had already been given previously, to speed up vaccination. The other vaccination points were located in Jätkäsaari, Kannelmäki, Malmi and Myllypuro.
At the same time, vaccination points for older people were opened at Laakso Hospital and the Kustaankartano Senior Centre. At the beginning of the year, the opening hours of the vaccination points were also expanded. The vaccination points made additional vaccination appointments available when more vaccinators were found.
End of an era
The vaccination points of Itäkeskus, Malmi and Kannelmäki closed in late 2022. The Jätkäsaari vaccination point closed in January 2023.
The Helsinki vaccination points administered over one and a half million COVID-19 vaccine doses in two years. During that time, hundreds of professionals from Helsinki healthcare and social welfare services participated in organising the COVID-19 vaccinations.
“All in all, the staff who participated in the vaccinations did a great job. They deserve a huge thank you!”
“Thanks for this wonderful achievement are also due to the residents of Helsinki who took the COVID-19 vaccine. Extensive vaccinations were the key to overcoming the severe pandemic,” says Timo Lukkarinen, Medical Director of Health Stations.
At the moment, Helsinki residents can receive COVID-19 vaccinations at their own health station, if needed.