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APN podcast: Behind the curtain of Finland's Covid wards

All Points North finds out what life is really like for healthcare workers and patients on a Finnish coronavirus ward.

Photo of a health care worker in an ICU ward, featuring the All Points North podcast logo.
Image: Arash Matin / Yle
Yle News

This week the All Points North podcast pulls back the curtain on Finland's Covid wards, finds out what happens when restaurants don't recognise your vaccine certificate, and hears from a charity wanting to deliver gifts to kids this Christmas.

"I didn't realise before I went there that this ward would have people who are suffering from different illnesses. There were people who were suffering from dementia, drug addiction, and then there were newborn babies," Yle journalist Satu Miettinen told APN of her reporting on Päijät-Häme Central Hospital's Covid ward.

You can listen to the full podcast using the embedded player here, via Yle Areena, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your usual podcast player using the RSS feed.

Article continues after audio.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has floated the idea of mandatory vaccines, but public health institute vaccine researcher Jonas Sivelä told APN he doesn't agree with the idea of forcing jabs.

"Directly or indirectly accusing people and placing blame will probably not help those who are not vaccinated make a positive decision. In our Nordic context, I would definitely say that we should continue with softer ways of trying to make a change," he explained.

APN also takes up audience concerns, which this week include the challenges of eating out when restaurants don't recognise American vaccination certificates, to the trials and tribulations of booking health appointments in English.

With the countdown to Christmas started, the podcast team also hears from Joulupuu, a charity aiming to deliver 100,000 gifts to children.

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This week's show was presented by Zena Iovino and Ronan Browne. It was produced by Mark B. Odom and the audio engineer was Laura Koso.

If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, just contact us via WhatsApp on +358 44 421 0909, on our Facebook or Twitter accounts, or at yle.news@yle.fi and allpointsnorth@yle.fi.

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