The number of fourth doses of the Covid vaccine administered in Finland has increased over the past few weeks, according to Hanna Nohynek, chief physician at the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

THL issued a new guideline in mid-July recommending that municipalities offer a fourth jab to those aged 60 and over as well as to those aged 18 and over who are considered to be in medical risk groups.

Health officials urged that the program be implemented by the beginning of August at the latest.

There seems to be variation between municipalities in the rate at which the new recommendation has been put into practice.

Immediately after the recommendation was issued, Nohynek said, the fourth dose of the vaccine began to be administered, but there has been a clear increase in the last two weeks.

As a result of the new recommendation, a large number of people became eligible for the second booster.