COVID-19 in Finland: Vaccination strategy as part of the wider governing of the pandemic.

Objectives: To analyze the vaccination strategy as part of wider public governing of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. Methods: The study provides a synthesis of vaccination strategy and health policy measures, as well as economic challenges, in the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. The analysis is based on the systematic collection and reviewing of documents and reports. The review was complemented with relevant pandemic and vaccination monitoring data from Finland. Results: The vaccination strategy approved by the Finnish Government in December 2020 prioritised various risk groups and health and social care professionals attending to COVID-19 patients. The Government has purchased COVID-19 vaccines through the EU joint procurement programme. Vaccinations were organised by municipalities and offered free of charge. The Government recommends universal vaccinations, including foreign residents and undocumented migrants. In 2021, the Government adopted a revised COVID-19 hybrid strategy, which aimed to dismantle wide restrictions as a means to control the epidemic. Despite high vaccination coverage, the Omicron variant became widespread in the population. The economic consequences of the pandemic have been less severe than expected. Conclusions: In the approach to manage the pandemic, the vaccination strategy has a central role. Finland has probably benefitted from the EU joint vaccine procurement programme. The rapid launch of the vaccinations was supported by the existing vaccination capacity in municipalities. High vaccine coverage was seen as a key in opening society. Although a relatively high vaccination rate was not able to stop the spread of Omicron in late 2021, it has efficiently curbed serious cases and kept the death rate low.

COVID-19 pandemic in Finland - Preliminary analysis on health system response and economic consequences.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the impact of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 on health policy, social- and health system, and economic and financing system to prevent, treat, contain and monitor the virus in Finland. METHODS: This study provides early outcomes of health policy measures, social- and health system capacity as well as economic challenges in COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. This paper is based available documents and reports of different ministries and social, health and economic authorities collected online. This was complemented by other relevant pandemic data from Finland. RESULTS: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Finnish society has been unpredictable although it has not been as extensive and massive than in many other countries. As the situation evolved the Government took strict measures to stop the spread of the virus (e.g. Emergency Powers Act). Available information shows that the economic consequences will be drastic also in Finland, albeit perhaps less dramatic than in large industrial economies. CONCLUSIONS: Finland has transferred gradually to a "hybrid strategy", referring to a move from extensive restrictive measures to enhanced management of the epidemic. However, health system must be prepared for prospective setback. It is possible, that COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of digital health services and telemedicine in Finnish healthcare system.