Vaccinations against avian flu begin in Finland: find out who gives the vaccine – 2024-06-27 12:22:23

Vaccinations against bird flu begin in Finland.

The vaccine is offered to people aged 18 and over who, due to work or other circumstances, are at increased risk of contracting avian influenza. The vaccine aims to protect people at risk of contracting bird flu from serious illness caused by the virus.

According to THL’s press release, 20,000 doses of avian influenza vaccine have been purchased in Finland through a joint EU procurement. The quantity is enough to vaccinate 10,000 people with two doses.

The aim is also to prevent the avian influenza virus from infecting humans at the same time as the seasonal influenza virus, which could create a new type of virus.

Human seasonal influenza viruses are originally avian influenza A viruses that have mutated and adapted to the human population over time.

As of 2020, highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) is widely present in European wild bird populations, particularly in seagulls. High pathogenicity here refers to the fact that the virus can kill the bird.

Bird flu vaccines are not administered to the entire population. James Thew / Alamy Stock Photo, AOP

Zero cases in Finland

According to the THL press release, the avian influenza virus is weakly contagious to humans and cases of infection are generally very rare.

Single infections of the H5 virus type in humans were observed in Europe in the years 2021–2023.

Active virus According to THL it caused mass deaths of wild and farmed birds and infections among mammals. In some mammals the disease was serious.

In 2023, large mass deaths of wild birds occurred in Finland, caused by avian influenza virus infection. The virus has also spread widely on fur farms, causing high morbidity and mortality in animals.

This year, according to THL, avian influenza occurred among wild birds at a much lower rate than last year.

So far (25 June 2024) no human infection with avian influenza has been detected in Finland.

«As soon as possible»

The bird flu vaccine is administered in two shots.

The second dose is administered no earlier than three weeks after the first dose. However, the vaccination interval can be clearly longer.

According to the THL press release, the aim is to start vaccinations in care areas as soon as possible, so that the two-dose vaccination series can be offered to vaccinated people before the start of the autumn flu season.

The care areas tell you where and when you can get vaccinated.

The Food Agency monitors the spread of avian influenza in wild birds in Finland and prevents the spread of the disease on farms.

This way you avoid infection

Bird flu can be contracted from sick or dead animals or from their secretions. Good hand hygiene is important to prevent avian flu infections.

Avoid touching dead or sick birds or other wild animals and surfaces stained by their secretions.

If you come into contact with bird droppings or dead birds, practice good hand hygiene.

In humans, avian influenza viruses usually cause asymptomatic or mild respiratory infections or conjunctivitis, but infection can also cause severe symptoms.

Older adults and people with pre-existing conditions are at greater risk of developing a serious illness.