Yle survey: Nearly 90% planning to take coronavirus vaccine
More than half of respondents were certain about taking the jab, while two percent said they would refuse the vaccine.
The coronavirus vaccination programme began in Finland on 27 December 2020. File photo.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
The majority of people in Finland are either definitely or probably going to take the coronavirus vaccine, according to the results of a survey commissioned by Yle and carried out by pollster Taloustutkimus.
Nine percent of respondents replied negatively to the survey s question, with two percent saying they would definitely not take the jab.
The survey further found that people over the age of 65 were the most likely willing to take the vaccine, with 94 percent of that age demographic responding positively to the question.
Heavy snowfall, especially in southern and southwestern areas, is expected to continue into Wednesday.
Snow falling outside Helsinki Central train station on Tuesday morning.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
A snowstorm has led to power outages and hazardous driving conditions across southern and southwestern Finland on Tuesday.
The blizzard has also extended to western and central parts of the country, but significantly less snow has fallen in these areas.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a series of weather warnings in relation to dangerous driving conditions, especially in the south and southwest.
Story continues after the photo.
A cyclist pushing a bike through the blizzard next to Senate Square in Helsinki.
The legal conditions to re-activate the Emergency Powers Act have not been met, Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) told reporters after a government meeting on Wednesday evening, warning, however, that a state of emergency may well have to be called, even before Christmas.
All nine parties in parliament, including the opposition, were invited to assess possible future measures next Monday. Parliament could even interrupt its holiday break to pass the emergency legislation if this is deemed necessary.
However, some ministers have previously called for a tougher approach, calling for the Emergency Powers Act used in spring to be re-activated, the broadsheet
Finland s largest circulation daily, Helsingin Sanomat, is among the papers reporting that Prime Minister
Sanna Marin (SDP) told the media on Wednesday evening that the government will not, at least yet, be seeking to re-activate the Emergency Powers Act to deal with the resurgence of the coronavirus in the country.
However, she did announce that all parliamentary parties are being invited to take part in a discussion on the situation this coming Monday.
It is the government s view that the conditions required to activate emergency powers have not yet been met. The prime minister pointed out, however, that expert opinion is that the situation could change quickly.