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The national vaccination programme against tick-borne encephalitis is expanding to new areas in Western Uusimaa

10.1.2025 12.42Updated:23.1.2025 8.29

This year, the national vaccination programme against tick-borne encephalitis will expand to the districts of Kurttila and Vanttila in the postcode area of Kauklahti in Espoo and to Upinniemi in Kirkkonummi (postcode area 02470) and the postcode area 02480. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL defines the risk areas in which the vaccination is offered.

Updated 23.1.2025

TBE vaccinations under the national vaccination programme are free of charge and are available to all permanent residents and long-term holiday residents aged three or over in the area. The vaccination course consists of three doses of the vaccine. The more a person spends time and moves around in nature during the time of the year when the soil is not frozen, the more necessary the vaccine is for them.

A person who has not been previously vaccinated is entitled to three free doses. A person whose primary vaccination series has not been completed also receives the booster vaccinations free of charge as part of the national programme. Boosters for those who have received the series of three doses are not currently included in the national vaccination programme.

Get the first vaccination at the beginning of spring

It is recommended that the first two doses be administered at the beginning of spring to allow protection to build up before ticks appear. The third vaccine dose will be administered the following year.

TBE vaccinations covered by the national vaccination programme are administered by health stations, maternity and child health clinics and school and student healthcare providers. If you are entitled to the vaccine because you have cottage in a risk area, the vaccine will be provided by the municipality where your cottage is located in. For example, those who spend the summer in Porkkala can get the TBE vaccination in Kirkkonummi. People in military service in Upinniemi will be vaccinated in the garrison.

How to book your TBE vaccination appointment in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County

Book an appointment for a TBE vaccination in your municipality of residence. If you are entitled to the vaccine because you have cottage in a risk area book an appointment in the municipality where your cottage is located in. Vaccinations in the new recommended risk areas will begin no later than in week 10. If the area is already included in the list of risk areas, appointments for TBE vaccinations may be available from the beginning of the year.

Appointment booking will start online and by calling on Fri 7th Feb. 

Health stations: Book an appointment online or by calling Mon–Fri from 8:00 to 15:30. On the phone, choose your health station and vaccinations. Your number will be saved in our system, and we will call you back.

School and student health nurses will inform pupils and students in risk areas of the vaccination through Wilma messages.

To book an appointment at a maternity and child health clinic, please visit: https://www.luvn.fi/en/services/family-centre/maternity-and-child-health-clinics/child-health-clinic#section-8789 

The vaccination is recommended in many municipalities in Western Uusimaa

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommends obtaining the TBE vaccine privately in many municipalities of Western Uusimaa. The THL website has more information in Finnish about the recommended TBE vaccination not covered by the national vaccination programme.(external link)

If you are not covered by the national vaccination programme but want to protect yourself against tick-borne encephalitis, you can get the TBE vaccine privately. You can request a prescription for the TBE vaccine by calling your health station. You can then purchase the vaccine at a pharmacy and book a vaccination appointment online or by phone. The TBE vaccine is also available through private healthcare providers.

Protect yourself and others from tick bites

The TBE vaccine only protects against viral tick-borne encephalitis. The vaccine does not protect against other diseases transmitted by ticks, such as borreliosis (Lyme disease), and does not prevent ticks from attaching to the skin. All diseases spread by ticks can be prevented by protecting yourself against tick bites.

All areas covered by the national vaccination programme in Western Uusimaa with postcodes:

  • Espoo: Suvisaaristo 02380
  • Espoo: Vanttila and Kurttila 02780
  • Kirkkonummi: Luoma 02440
  • Kirkkonummi: Masala 02430
  • Kirkkonummi: Upinniemi 02470
  • Kirkkonummi 02480
  • Lohja: Ojamo 08200
  • Lohja: Lylyinen/Hormajärvi 08450
  • Lohja: Vohloinen/Virkkala 08700
  • Raseborg: Bromarv 10570

Further information