Eksote informs: Corona vaccinations have been started in South Karelia

After the end of December, more vaccines have been delivered to the province every week and they are injected according to the exact order by appointment.

- Everyone to be vaccinated receives two doses of the vaccine and at the beginning it was uncertain at what pace the vaccine manufacturer would get the vaccines delivered. Now we have found some certainty in deliveries and in the next couple of weeks we will be able to vaccinate about a thousand people per week, when the booster dose does not have to be put aside to wait, says the director of health and elderly services of the Eksoten social and health district of South Karelia Tuula Karhula.

After these two weeks, vaccines will be needed from incoming batches in the future both for vaccinating new persons and for booster doses of previously vaccinated ones. The system requires careful consideration and reasoned decisions to function.

- The Government's decree determines exactly who we vaccinate at any time. The first to be vaccinated in Eksote were the employees of the intensive care unit. Now also on the vaccination schedule are employees who care for, examine, or care for corona patients or strongly suspected corona patients, people working in first care and on-call, infection reception staff, corona sample collection staff and laboratory staff performing coronavirus diagnostics, says Eksote's chief infectious disease doctor Pekka Suomalainen.

Vaccination order exactly given

THL has also given additional instructions related to the regulation. The groups in question (persons entitled to vaccination according to the regulation) are those who are exposed to a possible corona infection in their work or are in a critical position to secure the treatment of seriously ill patients.

Eksote will be able to vaccinate elderly nursing home residents as early as next week.
- In Esote, in accordance with the regulation, we will next move to vaccinate the staff and residents of the operational units of the social care housing services for elderly people and the enhanced service of institutional care, i.e. round-the-clock care, continues Suomalainen.

- Vaccination involves many factors that must be taken into account. For example, the handling of the BioNTech and Pfizer vaccine that is now distributed is different from previous vaccines. This is taken into account when planning vaccinations and, among other things, where vaccinations are given, says Suomalainen.

When the nursing staff and residents are vaccinated, other critical social and health care personnel, such as the staff of the organ transplant units, will take their turn to a limited extent.
- We are currently in the process of defining this group. We follow careful consideration so that the vaccines are targeted sensibly and in accordance with the given regulations and the detailed instructions, explains Karhula.

Vaccinations of the population start with the elderly

When a wider population is allowed to be vaccinated, the residents of the area over 80 years of age and their caregivers will be the first to receive the vaccines. Residents and employees of home care are also vaccinated in the Eksote area at the same time. Vaccinations of the elderly and people in risk groups proceed as follows:

1) ≥80 years old                                       

2) 75–79-year-olds

3) 70–74-year-olds

4) People aged <70 years who have a disease that predisposes them to serious coronavirus disease

5) People aged <70 years who have a serious illness predisposing to the coronavirus disease

Once the risk group members have been vaccinated, those over 50 can get vaccinated if they want, and all willing citizens over 16 are the last to get vaccinated.

For vaccinations voluntarily and by appointment

Corona vaccinations are voluntary. Citizens are expected to have the most positive attitude towards vaccinations, even though vaccination may arouse hesitation. The aim is to share as much information as possible about vaccines both in Eksoten and nationally through THL, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Pharmaceutical Safety and Development Center Fimea. Vaccinations are based on herd protection and the more people take the vaccination, the more effective the vaccination is.

- The corona pandemic has touched each of us in different ways. During the corona pandemic, people have experienced both financial and mental difficulties, made sacrifices and suffered from loneliness, for example. We all share this same crisis and now, with the help of vaccinations, we have the opportunity to strive towards a more normal everyday life. Participation in vaccinations is voluntary, but desirable, encourages Karhula.

Vaccinations of the population will be handled by appointment.
- Staff vaccinations have also been handled by appointment and the appointment books have always been filled with appointments, cancellation slots are filled quickly, and no empty appointments are left, confirms Karhula.

So far, vaccinations have only been given in Lappeenranta, but in the future they will also be given in Imatra and smaller municipalities. Some of the vaccines that have received or are awaiting marketing authorization are better able to withstand storage and transport, and as these become available, it is also possible to change the vaccination plan.

- We have prepared for various scenarios, with the corona we have become accustomed to contingency plans and they have been made even now in case of an ever-changing situation, says Karhula.

- So far, for example, it seems that the two different vaccines that have now received marketing authorization both also attack modified virus variants. However, the situation is closely monitored and we always react as necessary. Decisions are made both nationally and locally in groups that include a wide range of experts. Using know-how, we strive for the best possible outcome and our goal is to progress with vaccinations as vaccines are received in South Karelia. We have no reason to delay, says Suomalainen.

Eksote informs about the progress of vaccinations, booking an appointment and vaccination-related matters whenever necessary.

The arrival of vaccination doses in Finland is monitored and coordinated by THL:
https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/tilannekatsaus-koronaviruksesta

The safety and development center for the pharmaceutical industry Fimea's corona page: https://www.fimea.fi/tietoa_fimeasta/ajankohtaista/koronavirus-covid-19-

For more information:

Tuula Karhula, director of health and elderly services, tel. 040 194 4936, wind.bearexote.fi (tuula[dot]karhula[at]eksote[dot]fi)