Coronavirus vaccinations at schools for 12–15-year-olds

The coronavirus vaccine is available to all 12–15-year-olds. Children and young people are offered the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine or the Moderna Spikevax vaccine. These are the only vaccines currently in use in Finland that are conditionally authorised for use in people aged 12 or older. Both vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

At schools, we will be offering the Moderna Spikevax vaccine.

The vaccination is voluntary. Minors can decide for themselves whether to get vaccinated if the health care professional administering the vaccine determines that they are able to make the decision based on their age and level of development. Legally, there is no age limit for a child’s right of self-determination, and the matter will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If a young person is unable or unwilling to make the decision, their guardians must give their consent for vaccination.

Please note that if the young person has had the coronavirus disease, the first coronavirus vaccination dose can be given at the earliest 8 weeks after the diagnosis or the onset of symptoms.

Pupils who wish to get the coronavirus vaccination at school can do so during the school day. We hope that everyone who gets vaccinated during the school day will bring a consent form with them to the vaccination situation (links below). Pupils and their guardians should talk about vaccination issues at home beforehand and hopefully come to a unanimous decision.

If a young person does not have a consent form but they want to get vaccinated, health care staff will assess their ability to make the decision independently.

• Parents’ or guardians’ consent to a coronavirus vaccine(external link, opens in a new window)

If a guardian wishes to attend the child’s vaccination, they should book a vaccination appointment at one of the city’s vaccination sites. The online appointment booking service at bookcovidvaccine.fi (external link, opens in a new window)is now also open to 12–15-year-olds. 

You can also get the first vaccine dose at the Iso Omena walk-in vaccination site without booking an appointment. The city’s other vaccination sites require that you book an appointment.

If a young person receives their first vaccine dose at a vaccination site, the booster dose will also be given at a vaccination site. If the first dose is given at school, the second dose will also be given at school. 

• Espoo’s coronavirus helpline and appointment booking, tel. +358 9 81634600 (Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00 and Sat–Sun 9:00–15:00).
• School nurse
• Coronavirus vaccinations in Espoo
• THL: Coronavirus vaccinations for children and young people, Q&A(external link, opens in a new window)