BCG vaccinations only to be given to risk groups
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Publication date
23.8.2006
8.20
Press release
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The MSAH has amended the regulations concerning vaccinations making it no longer necessary for newborn infants to have to be given the tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette and Guérin, or BCG, vaccine. Tuberculosis has dropped significantly in Finland in the last 40 years and the rate of the spread of infection between population groups when it does occur is low. In Sweden the automatic vaccination of infants was stopped in the 1970s.
Babies at risk from infection will however continue to receive BCG injections, if a member of their family was either born in a country where TB is prevalent or has been found to have the disease.
Further information:
Ms Merja Saarinen, Ministerial Counsellor, Health/Medical Affairs tel. +358 9 160 74030