About 30 000 residents of Helsinki have booked influenza vaccination times over the past week. The appointment booking opened on Monday 25 October and vaccinations will be given 1-26 November.
People at risk and those close to them can receive free influenza vaccinations. The risk groups and the exact definition of the those close to them are shown here(Link leads to external service).
You get a vaccination by appointment only. The quickest way to book a vaccination is via influenzavaccination.hel.fi(Link leads to external service). You can also book an appointment by calling the appointment booking line, tel. 09 310 46300 (weekdays 8:00-16:00).
– Residents of Helsinki have been active in booking influenza vaccination times during last week. Unfortunately, the great popularity has congested the telephone booking and there is a delay in the call-back service. The delay is about two weekdays. However, we will indeed call everyone back. If possible, it is worth booking the vaccination time online, which many people have also done, says Medical Director of health stations Timo Lukkarinen.
Getting vaccinated is especially important this year, as it is possible to catch both the coronavirus and the influenza virus at the same time. Simultaneous infections may increase the risk of severe illness. The influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. So that the vaccinations will go smoothly, one has to book an appointment.
– The influenza vaccine provides protection against influenza, its serious forms of disease and aftereffects. As with corona, vaccinations should be taken to protect yourself and those close to you. The influenza vaccine can be obtained from the same centralized vaccination points as the COVID-19 vaccine, Lukkarinen says.
If you would like to take the seasonal influenza vaccination and third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, it is possible as long as six months have passed since the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination has been received, and you belong to a group that is now receiving the third dose of vaccine. In that case, it is enough to just book an influenza vaccination. There is, therefore, no need to set aside a separate time for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the Jätkäsaari, Kannelmäki, Malmi and Myllypuro vaccination points from Mon-Thu 8:15-18:00 and Fri 8:15-16:00.
More information
How to make an infuenza vaccination appointment(Link leads to external service)
Picture: Virpi Velin