The UK introduced the move in a bid to provide as much of the population with some protection as possible. Test results released yesterday from the University of Oxford, which worked with AstraZeneca to produce the jab, concluded the three-month gap does not impact the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Finland’s regulatory body, the National Vaccine Expert Group (KRAR), also approved the extended timespan.
Hanna Nohynek, the chief physician at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), explained the decision.
She said: “When trying to prevent loss of life, it seems natural to take it from the point where the clear exponential rise starts.
“The vaccinated person usually gets better protection when the dosing interval is extended, because the resistance produced by the body matures and strengthens.
“At the same time, a longer dosing interval will help to rapidly increase vaccination coverage in a severe epidemic situation, when small-batch doses are sufficient for vaccinating more people.”
However the KRAK has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine is only given to people under the age of 70.
According to the THL only 54,000 Finns over the age of 70 have been vaccinated thus far.
Finland is expecting to receive another two million vaccine doses by the close of April, with 230,000 having arrived thus far.
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The data, published in The Lancet, found a 67 percent in positive coronavirus tests from those who have taken the vaccine.
French President Emmanuel Macron provoked outrage last week when he said the AstraZeneca vaccine appears to be “quasi-ineffective on people older than 65, some say those 60 years or older”.
The comment was angrily rebuked by the British Government and AstraZeneca.
Speaking to the BBC John Bell, an Oxford University medical professor, said: “I’m not sure where he got that from.
“I suspect this is a bit of demand management from Mr Macron.
“If you didn’t have any vaccine the best thing you could do is reduce demand.”
The UK has vaccinated a far higher proportion of its population than any other European country.
Globally it trails only world leaders Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
On Wednesday the Government announced the UK has now vaccinated more than 10 million of its residents.
Boris Johnson tweeted: “It’s fantastic that 10 million people in the UK have got their first dose of the vaccine.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible.”
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega