Better opportunities for occupational healthcare to participate in COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Municipalities must in future determine whether occupational healthcare service providers that operate in their areas can participate in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, if this is necessary to ensure the provision of vaccinations without delays. On Thursday 16 December, the Government decided to amend section 1 of the Government Decree on Voluntary COVID-19 Vaccinations.
The aim of the amendment to the Decree is to release municipalities’ resources from vaccination activities to other tasks, to help roll out booster vaccines as swiftly as possible and to promote vaccination coverage among the working-age population, for example.
The amendment to the Decree does not provide for any new duties for municipalities or occupational healthcare. Under the provisions in force, municipalities are already responsible for organising the vaccinations and occupational healthcare services have the right to participate in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations. Under the Local Government Act, municipalities can determine themselves whether occupational healthcare services can participate in the vaccine rollout or they can agree that the responsibility for organising the vaccinations is transferred to another municipality or a joint municipal authority.
The Decree will enter into force on 17 December 2021.
Inquiries:
Liisa Katajamäki, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Eva Ojala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] (reimbursements under the Health Insurance Act)