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Government to approve vaccines decree, as first batch arrives
Government ministers are set to meet in a special session on Tuesday to approve a decree that will allow Covid-19 vaccinations to begin in Finland. European regulators have approved a marketing authorisation for the first vaccine, from Pfizer-BioNtech, so that a rollout programme can begin. The initial batches of the vaccine, which must be stored at ultra-low temperatures, are also expected to arrive in Finland this week and vaccinations will begin on 27th December, authorities say. Clinical studies show that the vaccine is about 95% effective, meaning that the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19 was reduced by 95% in people who received the vaccine compared with those who received the placebo. The vaccine also proved effective in at-risk groups such as people with asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension or who are overweight. The vaccine is given in two doses, with 21 days between vaccinations.