Rokotusohjelma

Rokotuso ohjelma, or rokotusohjelma in Finnish, refers to a public health program designed to prevent infectious diseases by providing immunizations according to an approved national schedule. Its aim is to protect individuals and reduce the burden of communicable diseases in the population.

The program is organized and implemented by national and local health authorities in Finland, coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Vaccines are offered free of charge to residents through municipal health centers and are administered according to a schedule that covers infancy through adolescence, including catch-up campaigns for those who missed vaccines in early childhood.

Routine immunizations typically cover vaccines against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio, as well as Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis B, and varicella. The HPV vaccine is provided to adolescents, and additional vaccines may be offered for older age groups or based on risk factors. The schedule is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect current evidence and national needs.

Monitoring and safety are integral parts of the rokotusohjelma. Coverage data and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are collected and analyzed by THL and other public health bodies to assess effectiveness and safety and to guide recommendations.

Overall, the rokotusohjelma has contributed to substantial declines in the incidence of many vaccine-preventable diseases in Finland and remains a cornerstone of preventive health policy and public health protection.