Travellers’ health and vaccinations
Health risks associated with travel and how to prepare in advance
When travelling abroad, you may be exposed to infectious diseases that are not found in Finland. If your trip involves a heightened risk of such diseases, it is advisable to know how to protect yourself against infection and, if necessary, to get vaccinated against the most serious diseases. In the wellbeing services county, you can primarily access health advice for travellers via the HyVä-digi online service.
Make sure you read the THL’s Health Guide for Travellers (Matkailijan terveysopas, in Finnish) (https://www.terveyskirjasto.fi/sisalto/matkailijan-terveysopas(siirryt toiseen palveluun)) well in advance (2–3 months) of your departure. The section of the guide entitled ‘Country-specific recommendations’ (Maakohtaiset suositustekstit) contains information on the need for malaria prophylaxis, as well as recommended and optional vaccinations.
The need for vaccinations and medication depends not only on the destination country but also on the nature and duration of the stay, any specific risks and other factors to be taken into account. Please check the specific guidelines for each country you are visiting, including any stays of more than 12 hours during stopovers. If you need to carry medication for a long-term condition, check the customs regulations of your destination country regarding the import of medicines. You can ask your pharmacy to provide the necessary prescription translations.
Vaccinations, medication and contacting healthcare services
Also find out which vaccinations you have already had and when you had them. You can find general information about vaccines on the THL website (www.thl.fi/en/main-page(avautuu uuteen ikkunaan, siirryt toiseen palveluun)) and on websites such as www.rokotustieto.fi/en/homepage/(avautuu uuteen ikkunaan, siirryt toiseen palveluun). Subsequently, please contact HyVä-digi or a private healthcare provider, if you need advice or further vaccinations. Please bear in mind when planning your schedule that some vaccines may require a course of injections administered over a period of about a month to achieve the best protection.
When you get in touch, a healthcare professional will draw up a vaccination plan, arrange the necessary prescriptions for you and, if required, book an appointment for you to receive the vaccine. Prophylactic medication required for travel and vaccines not included in the national immunisation programme must be purchased from a pharmacy with a prescription at your own expense. It is best to collect your vaccines from the pharmacy on the very day they are due to be administered.
If your prescriptions have been issued via HyVä-digi, you will receive your vaccinations at your local health centre, and you can book an appointment for this when using HyVä-digi. If prescriptions have been issued by a private healthcare provider, vaccinations will also be administered by a private healthcare provider. If your travel is work-related, the occupational health service will assess which vaccinations you need and arrange for them to be administered.