Vaccinations
Vaccines are part of occupational and patient safety.
In accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act, an employer must ensure that employees and students at the workplace treating and caring for patients or clients vulnerable to serious consequences of infectious diseases have vaccine coverage as defined in section 48.
Influenza vaccinations for social and health care workers
According to the Communicable Diseases Act, employers must ensure that people at risk of influenza receive adequate care from staff who have been vaccinated against influenza. Such people include, for example, patients whose immune system is significantly weakened due to an illness or its treatment. Pregnancy under 12 months or over 65 years of age is also susceptible to the severe consequences of influenza.
Influenza vaccinations are free of charge
Social welfare, health care and pharmaceutical services personnel involved in the treatment and caring of patients and clients are entitled to influenza vaccinations free of charge. This applies, for example, to staff in elderly care units, intensive service housing, hospital and health centre wards and home care services.
The influenza vaccine included in the national vaccination programme is free of charge for both public and private sector employees and students who go on an internship at a social welfare and health care unit. You can get the vaccine either in your own wellbeing services county or in occupational health care.
You can get vaccinated during working hours
Employees have the right to get vaccinated during working hours, unless it is difficult to do so during other hours.