Vaccinations and communicable diseases

In school and student healthcare, we focus on the prevention, identification and control of communicable diseases.

Pupils and students receive basic vaccinations included in the national vaccination programme free of charge through school and student healthcare during health examinations, by booking an appointment or by coming to an open clinic. The vaccinations given can be viewed at www.kanta.fi (external link).

National vaccination programme: Which vaccines are recommended for different age groups? - THL(external link).

Some vaccinations are seasonal vaccinations, such as influenza vaccinations, which are organised annually according to a separately announced schedule. We will provide information about the vaccination schedule on our website before the influenza season begins.

If your vaccination protection needs to be expanded, for example for a trip abroad, contact your own health station.

Pupils and students must take care of their vaccination protection and the health assessments required under the Communicable Diseases Act during work placements and studies. The employer/work placement site defines the work units in which the assessment and protection required by the Communicable Diseases  Act are mandatory.

You can obtain a salmonella certificate

- by completing in the www.lunna.fi(external link) application the symptom questionnaire called “salmonellatodistus” (salmonella certificate)

- you can contact a public health nurse by phone

- you can book an appointment with a public health nurse to obtain a salmonella certificate

Instructions for handwashing related to the salmonella certificate can be found on this site in the form of templates. More information about salmonella(external link)

If you have contracted salmonella, please read the instructions Salmonella: Potilasohje sairastuneelle(external link)

You can obtain a communicable disease assessment

Fill in the communicable disease form, which is available on this site as a template. Use the form to assess whether you need additional vaccination protection or other further examinations. Check your previous vaccination protection on your vaccination card, from your previous school, your home municipality’s health station or your occupational healthcare provider. You can also view your vaccinations at www.kanta.fi(external link). From the list of countries, you can check whether your country of birth is a high tuberculosis risk country. Country-specific recommendations for communicable disease screening - THL(external link)

If no risk factors emerge in the questionnaire you can present the self-completed questionnaire at your placement site at the beginning of the placement. ​

If risks emerge in the questionnaire, book an appointment with a public health nurse​. After the assessment and any necessary measures carried out by student healthcare, the public health nurse will sign your self-assessment form and the work placement can begin.

The communicable disease assessment applies to students who are going on placement either in a social or healthcare unit, in care duties involving pre-school-age children, or in food industry work. Daycare centres, schools and reception centres are not social and healthcare operating units, and therefore section 48 of the Communicable Diseases Act does not apply to them. However, a tuberculosis assessment is required, which is part of the communicable disease assessment.

Further information on vaccinations and communicable diseases for students Vaccinations for working life - THL(external link) and Vaccinations for students - THL(external link)