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Finland to Set in Place Tighter Tobacco Regulations
Despite its already relatively tough tobacco restrictions, Finland is seeking to tighten its regulations further as it aims to become completely smokefree by 2030.
Finland was expected to be the first EU member state to become smoke-free, but Sweden got there first by endorsing the use of snus. A recent report by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) looked into the use of cigarettes (which are still the predominant type of tobacco consumed in Finland), snus and e-cigarettes, from 2000 to 2019. The findings indicated a reduction in the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and an increase in snus consumption.
Finland s Parliamentary Ombudsman has received 82 formal complaints about actions by various authorities.
In Esko Kähkönen s opinion, the vaccination schedule is unfair because it does not take into account regional health variations.
Image: Ari Haimakainen / Yle
Esko Kähkönen, a resident of the small North Karelian municipality of Polvijärvi, is fed up with how Finland s vaccination programme is being handled. In his opinion, it has been unfair. In late April, Kähkönen filed a formal complaint about the vaccine schedule with the Parliamentary Ombudsman, who is tasked with overseeing the legality of actions taken by authorities.
Finland waits for EMA decision on Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine Finland waits for EMA decision on Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine
Finland map/CIA
The vaccine has been in extensive use in the United States, where rare cases of blood clotting problems have emerged among recipients. The clinical picture of the disturbances resembles that of one of the adenovirus vaccines, AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria.
In the United States, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been given to nearly eight million people as of last Friday. Among them a total of 15 rare cases of blood clotting were reported, mostly among women under the age of 50. In the United States, the vaccine continues to be administered, under the terms of the sales license, to those over the age of 18.
Variants do not seem to be evading vaccines in Finland, a new study finds.
Only a few virus variants have managed to breach the protection given by vaccines against the coronavirus.
Image: Tiina Jutila / Yle
Vaccines appear to be working against coronavirus variants in Uusimaa. Study findings indicate that variants are not over-represented in virus types bypassing vaccine protection.
Among vaccinated people who contracted coronavirus, one in ten were infected by a virus mutation.
At the moment the UK Covid variant is the most common mutation in Uusimaa. The data looked surprisingly good. It is reassuring to note that no spikes were generated by the different variants, said HUS diagnostics director
Highest incidence rate in southwestern region, authorities urge continuing precautions
May Day holidaymakers are being urged to mask and party in small groups, as the southwest sees high infection rates.
A street scene in central Turku, April 2021.
Image: Saana Sjöblom-Hasselblatt / Yle
The incidence rate in the Southwest Finland region rose to the highest in the country on Wednesday, registering a reported 106.4 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the region of Uusimaa, where it was 106.3 per 100,000. On Thursday those figures were 101.7 for Southwest Finland and 100.5 for Uusimaa, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
As of Thursday, the national rate was 60.7 per 100,000 residents.