In addition, while the overall propensity to receive vaccination remains high, long dosing intervals and slow vaccination rates in some areas have prevented young health care workers from receiving a booster dose.
Yle’s survey, which included responses from 13 of Finland’s 20 hospital districts, revealed that the majority of doctors and nurses have been vaccinated, and 85โ95 per cent of hospital staff received at least the first dose in most cases.
However, these figures are estimates by doctors and nurses, as employers are currently not allowed to even ask staff at the hospital if they have been vaccinated.
According to the hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital (HUS), 95 percent of its staff have received the first dose and about two-thirds have received the second injection.
The Department of Health and Welfare (THL) recommends both doses of the vaccine, as a single dose protects against only 35 percent of the Delta variant, which is highly contagious.
According to Yle, caregivers must take the flu vaccine if they are working with vulnerable patients; However, the Finnish Communicable Diseases Act does not oblige healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Tahira Sequeira
Helsinki Times