Workers and employers ’organizations have joined forces to demand changes to the government’s coronavirus vaccination policy.
During the Christmas period, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health published a paper outlining the introduction of vaccines, but according to social partners, "significant practical problems" with the proposal.
The blue-collar trade union federation SAK, its white-collar trade union STTK, the trade union federation Akava and the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK want taxpayers to fully reimburse the costs of vaccines provided by occupational health care.
The current proposal reimburses 60% of the costs. Most people working in Finland have the opportunity to receive occupational health services from their employer, either through the company’s internal staff or through a private contractor.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela is responsible for making these payments to employers. They cover the service provided because the vaccine itself is provided free of charge.
Tight schedule
Social partners also want more staff to be allowed to deliver vaccines, not just occupational health nurses, as is currently being proposed.
According to the organizations, this could significantly slow down the vaccination program.
They want to see changes in the law to ensure that the program progresses as quickly as possible before vaccinations for working-age people begin later in the year, so that occupational health services can deliver vaccines as efficiently as possible.
Source: The Nordic Page