The national vaccination programme will be expanded in autumn 2026 – chickenpox vaccine to be offered to 20–50-year-olds

The national vaccination programme will be expanded in autumn 2026. In future, the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine will also be offered to all adults aged 20–50 who have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it. There will be no changes to children’s chickenpox vaccinations, which will continue to be offered as usual at the ages of 18 months and 6 years.

In the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, the vaccinations will begin during autumn 2026. Vaccinations will be provided at health stations, in student healthcare and at maternity and child health clinics.

The vaccinations will be rolled out in stages. The first groups to be offered the vaccine are:

• people who are about to start medication or treatment that significantly weakens the immune system
• people planning a pregnancy
• people born between 2000 and 2005
• healthcare personnel.

You are protected against chickenpox and do not need the vaccine if you:

• are over 50 years old
• have received two doses of the chickenpox vaccine at least one month apart
• have had chickenpox
• have had a mild case of chickenpox after the age of one
• have had shingles
• have cared for or lived in the same household as someone with chickenpox.

We will publish more detailed instructions on the vaccinations and appointment booking on our website in August. Please wait until then before contacting us. We will not respond to enquiries about chickenpox vaccinations during the summer.

Further information about the vaccine is available on the THL website: Chickenpox vaccine – THL(external link) (in Finnish and Swedish)