The free tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, vaccination programme is expanding to eight new areas in Finland. TBE is a viral disease spread by ticks and occurs in some parts of Finland.
New locations include west Herttoniemi in Helsinki, Saarijärvi in Kuopio, and Kaakkuri in Oulu.
The basic TBE vaccination series provided under the national immunisation programme will be available free of charge.
Cases are reported most often in coastal and archipelago areas. On average, around one to two percent of ticks in high-risk areas carry the TBE virus.
Expanded eligibility
In Uusimaa, ticks are spreading to new areas. Until now, free vaccinations in Helsinki have been offered to residents of Karhusaari. Since January, the free basic vaccination series will also be available to people living in the Raasepori archipelago and in West Herttoniemi in Helsinki.
The vaccine is available to all residents over the age of three, as well as to cottage-goers who spend extended periods in high-risk areas.
The vaccine is provided by the wellbeing services county responsible for the risk area named in the vaccination programme. This means that people with holiday homes can receive the vaccine through the wellbeing services county where their cottage is located.
In Finland, the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis is highest in Kustavi, Parainen and the Åland Islands.
