The broadcaster THL is of the opinion that the extension of the current entry restrictions until the end of the year is clearly questionable from an epidemiological and medical point of view, given the increase in vaccines in Finland and Europe. The protection provided by vaccinations and infections is effective in preventing the spread of the disease.
Finland obliges incoming passengers to test for the virus unless they have a certificate of complete vaccine safety, recovery from the coronavirus within the last six months or a negative result from a pre-arrival test.
Other arrivals must be tested once or twice upon arrival.
However, the epidemiological situation has developed to such an extent that it is no longer necessary to require passengers to take a second test 3-5 days after arrival. It considers that the rules should be amended so that passengers have to be tested before departure or within 24 hours or on arrival.
It also believes the government should complete its list of approved vaccines with Russian Sputnik V. In a statement earlier this month, THL pointed out that studies show that the vaccine is as effective as two other vaccines developed with the same technology, which are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – AstraZeneca and Jansen.
“THL does not believe that Sputnik V patients pose a risk of worsening of the coronavirus epidemic in Finland,” the release said.
Although the safety of the vaccine is still being studied by the EMA and the World Health Organization (WHO), the issue of safety is not particularly important in this context, recalled Otto Helve, Head of THL, stated To YLE.
“When we talk about people who have already been vaccinated, this safety dimension in this process is a bit indifferent. It’s more about the effectiveness of the vaccine, ”he commented.
THL also questioned the decision to apply the coronavirus passport to 12-year-olds and older, stressing that it could force unvaccinated children to test several times a week to participate in leisure activities. It is estimated that the age limit will be raised to 16 years to meet the requirements for people entering the country.
The government’s proposal states that a passport can be obtained on the basis of a complete vaccination, recovery from coronavirus disease, or a negative test result.
The proposed age limit for the passport also appears to contradict a recent decision to relax child testing requirements, the government’s first-come, first-served principle, and the government estimates that it is unlikely that those under 16 will be restricted.
THL deplored the fact that the effects of the proposal on children have not been thoroughly studied.
The institute also proposed that coronavirus vaccines be added to the list of vaccines that are mandatory for social and health care professionals working with patients prone to infectious diseases.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT