Finland to give mRNA boosters to AstraZeneca jab recipients
A vaccine expert said it would have been wise for health authorities to have studied the effects of mix-and-match regimens earlier.
Nurse Nguelah Elise giving Maire Löppönen an Astra Zeneca jab in Helsinki on 14 April.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Finland now recommends that people under 65 who received a first dose of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vector-based vaccine to have their second shot be an mRNA-based vaccine.
Other countries, including Germany, France, Norway and Denmark have made similar decisions, due to concerns over rare blood clot side effects from the AstraZeneca jab.
The amount of compensation paid out ranges between 600 and 2,000 euros.
In Finland, the state bears responsibility for any possible side effects of coronavirus vaccines. Compensation has only been paid to 15 people, while nearly two million have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
Image: Tiina Jutila / Yle
A total of 15 people in Finland have received compensation for side effects related to a coronavirus vaccine, including for rashes, allergy symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and numbness. The amount of compensation paid out has ranged between 600 and 2,000 euros.
A further 13 claims for compensation have been rejected, while 57 cases are pending.
The claims are handled by the Finnish Mutual Insurance Company for Pharmaceutical Injury Indemnities. The company s CEO
The British variant is dominant in Helsinki s Covid epidemic.
Vaccinations being given at the Jätkäsaari vaccination centre in Helsinki on 15 April.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Finland has detected around ten cases of the B.1.617 coronavirus variant which was first detected in India, according to Helsinki University virology professor
Olli Vapalahti. Most of these infections were found at the border as people arrived into the country.
The variant has prompted concern among public health officials as Covid spread and death rates continue to spiral in India.
Vapalahti told Yle s morning TV show that Covid cases in Helsinki were split 80-20 between the British and South African strains of the virus.
Finland set to resume use of AstraZeneca vaccine for over-65s yle.fi - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yle.fi Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
To date, more than 600,000 people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus in Finland.
But how soon will the rest of us be able to get our jabs?
Yle asked vaccine specialist
Mia Kontio from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) what will happen to the pace of the national vaccination programme in the coming weeks.
Here s what she had to say:
Will vaccine deliveries to Finland speed up?
MK: The delivery of the vaccines has been variable. Biontech Pfizer has promised that significantly more of the vaccine will come from them starting in early April, at around 160,000 doses a week.