Influenza vaccinations
The influenza vaccine gives protection against influenza and associated secondary diseases. The protection provided by the influenza vaccine lasts for about a year.
Influenza is an acute inflammation of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses. Influenza epidemics occur every winter. Influenza is associated with a high fever, muscle ache and headache, and common cold symptoms.
The influenza vaccine gives protection against influenza and associated secondary diseases, such as ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia as well as myocardial infarction and cerebral circulation disorders
The majority of those who take the vaccine manage to avoid the flu. If a vaccinated person gets the flu, the disease is usually milder and recovery is faster. Protection provided by the influenza vaccine lasts for about a year, so a vaccine taken last year does not provide any protection against this season’s influenza.
Who is given a vaccination?
Groups entitled to a free influenza vaccination are as follows:
- Pregnant women
- Everyone aged 65 and over
- Children aged 6 months-6 years
- Those belonging to at-risk groups because of an illness or treatment
- Men starting their military service and women starting their voluntary military service
- Persons with an increased risk of contracting avian influenza
In addition, persons caring for clients and patients, as well as social, healthcare and medical care personnel, along with those close to a person susceptible to a serious influenza infection, are entitled to receive a free influenza vaccination.
Who in a close circle is entitled to a free influenza vaccination?
A free influenza vaccination can be given to a person in a close circle who
- is regularly in close contact with a person particularly susceptible to severe influenza
- is regularly in close contact with a person who is susceptible to severe influenza but cannot be protected by the influenza vaccine.
Regular close contact refers to a situation where the person in question lives in the same home or has weekly face-to-face contact with a protected person.
More information about vaccinating those in a close circle (THL.fi) (in Finnish)
Vaccination of non-risk groups
If you do not belong to a risk group or a close circle, you can inquire about having an influenza vaccination from your work or student healthcare centre. If necessary, you can also get a prescription from a health station, in which case you will pay for the vaccine yourself. In this case, you will obtain the vaccine from the pharmacy and take it to the nurses’ clinic, where the nurse will inject you with the vaccine.
Booster doses of coronavirus vaccine available together with influenza vaccination
The booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine can be given together with the influenza vaccination, if at least six months have passed since the previous vaccination or since you had the coronavirus. See the instructions on our COVID-19 Vaccinations webpage.
Appointment bookings
Book a vaccination appointment by calling Care Needs Assessment.
Call us for help on assessing your situation and guidance on our services.
Open Monday–Thursday from 08:00–15:00 and Fridays 08:00–14:00 (Variations between Municipalities may occur).
The number for a care needs assessment in Kristinestad is 06-218 6019 .
Jakobstad, Larsmo, Pedersöre och Nykarleby, 06 781 0330, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8-14.