Vaccinations

Basic vaccinations are administered at health centres, child health clinics and in school health care. These include tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. You do not need a prescription for basic vaccinations.

More information about the national vaccination programme: THL: National vaccination programme(external link)

In addition to the basic vaccinations, travellers may need additional vaccinations and medication (e.g. malaria and yellow fever). The need for additional vaccinations and medication depends on the country of destination, any specific risk and the nature and duration of the stay. To prevent some diseases, a series of vaccines may be necessary.

Please contact your local health station by phone or via Lunna approximately two months before you travel.

Prepare for the call by finding out which vaccinations you have received in the past. Also find out which vaccinations are needed in your country of destination. More information on travellers’ health: Travellers’ health guide.(external link)

A professional will arrange the necessary prescriptions for travel vaccinations. Once you have the prescription, you can pick up the vaccine from a pharmacy at your own expense. There are a limited number of vaccination times available.

Travel vaccinations are also provided by private health care companies. 

A primary series of three vaccines is offered free of charge to persons aged three years and over who live in or have a permanent summer residence in a risk area defined by the THL. Booster vaccinations are at your own expense, even if you have received your primary vaccine series at your own expense in the past.

Areas covered by the national vaccination programme in Western Uusimaa with their postal codes:

• Espoo: Suvisaaristo 02380
• Espoo: Kurttila ja Vanttila
• Kirkkonummi: Luoma 02440
• Kirkkonummi: Masala 02430
• Kirkkonummi: Upinniemi 02470
• Kirkkonummi: 02480 (for instance Porkkala)
• Lohja: Ojamo 08200
• Lohja: Lylyinen / Hormajärvi 08450
• Lohja: Vohloinen / Virkkala 08700
• Raasepori: Bromarv 10570

Children receive the vaccine at maternity and child health clinics or in the school healthcare services. Adults are vaccinated at health stations. In Espoo, residents of Suvisaaristo are vaccinated at the Tapiola Health Station and residents of Kurttila and Vanttila at the Samaria Health Station. In Kirkkonummi, residents of Luoma and Masala are vaccinated at the Masala Health Station and residents of Upinniemi and Porkkala at the Kirkkonummi Wellbeing Centre. In Lohja, TBE vaccines are administered at the Lohja Central Health Station and in Raseborg at the Ekenäs Health Station.

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.

The vaccine is the best way to protect against influenza and its complications, such as pneumonia. The vaccine should be taken every autumn as it is effective for about a year and the influenza virus is constantly mutating. By taking the influenza vaccine, you will also protect your loved ones.

More information about vaccinations and appointments for the autumn in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is available on the seasonal vaccinations page.

Read more about the influenza vaccine on the THL website.(external link) 

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious diseases caused by the pneumococcal bacterium, such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia. In the national vaccination programme, the pneumococcal vaccine is offered free of charge to

• stem cell transplant recipients
• people under the age of 75 with severe kidney disease (GFR ≤ 30, nephrotic syndrome)
• severely immunocompromised people under the age of 75
• people aged 65–84 with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Read more about the pneumococcal vaccines and their target groups on the THL website.(external link)

Coronavirus vaccines protect against serious illness and death caused by the coronavirus. THL recommends a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine for the elderly and certain at-risk groups in autumn 2024 – vaccinations to be given earlier than before.(external link) You can find information on coronavirus and influenza vaccination schedules and appointments on our seasonal vaccinations page.

The mpox vaccine is offered to all men over the age of 18 who have had sex with men and have had several casual sexual partners in the previous six months. The mpox vaccine is offered in accordance with the THL guidelines.(external link)

The vaccination series consists of two doses that are administered at least four weeks apart. The vaccinations are free of charge.

In the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, mpox vaccinations are administered centrally at Tapiola Health Centre, Ahertajantie 2, 02100 Espoo. You can book an appointment an for mpox vaccination by contacting Tapiola Health Centre on tel. 09 47636 400. Select Tapiola Health Centre and vaccinations on the line. We are available on weekdays Mon–Fri 08:00–15:30.

The avian influenza vaccine is free of charge for persons aged 18 or over who are at increased risk of being infected with avian influenza because of their work or other circumstances. 

You can find a more detailed description of the target groups for the avian influenza vaccine on the THL website.(external link)

Avian influenza vaccines are administered by appointment to persons who are at increased risk of being infected with avian influenza because of their work or duties. In Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, vaccinations are organised at Tapiola Health Centre in Espoo, at Lohja Central Health Centre and at Tammisaari Health Centre in Raasepori.

The avian influenza vaccination series consists of two doses. The second dose can be received just over a month after the first one. People in the target groups for the avian influenza vaccination will have the possibility to receive the first avian influenza vaccine in early July 2024, in weeks 27 and 28. The second vaccination will be scheduled for August 2024, for week 32 or 33, at the time of the first vaccination. The avian influenza vaccine will only be offered outside these times in exceptional circumstances.

Persons living in Espoo and Kauniainen who fall within the target groups for the avian influenza vaccination can book a vaccination appointment by calling Tapiola Health Centre on tel. 09 47636 400. Select Tapiola Health Centre and vaccinations on the line. We are available on weekdays Mon–Fri 08:00–15:30.

Residents of other municipalities who fall within the target groups for the avian influenza vaccination can book a vaccination appointment online for Lohja Health Centre. (external link)

Some vaccination times are also available at Tammisaari Health Centre. If you fall within the target groups for the avian flu vaccination and would like to schedule a vaccination appointment in Tammisaari, book an appointment online(external link) or by phone on tel. 09 47636 410. Select Tammisaari Health Centre and vaccinations on the line.  We are available on weekdays Mon–Fri 08:00–15:30.

More information on the avian influenza(external link)and the avian influenza vaccine (external link)can be found on the THL website.

THL’s news: Avian influenza vaccinations begin – vaccine to be offered to persons at increased risk of infection(external link)