Agreement on mandatory vaccination for healthcare staff

Unvaccinated health care providers may continue to work until April 1, provided they undergo a PCR test every 72 hours. After that, they are in principle dismissed, with the right to unemployment benefits. That dismissal can be challenged, so that the care provider retains his contract, but is without salary. If the care provider still resigns after that, the right to unemployment benefits will lapse. That was decided on Friday at the nuclear meeting.

The agreement is still being submitted to the National Labor Council. It will be able to propose amendments between the first and second reading of the text by the Council of Ministers. The government will consider them if they are unanimously approved in the NAR. In addition, it has also been agreed that the corona commissioner will have until January 15 to make an analysis of the general vaccination obligation. On Wednesday, the Consultation Committee instructed the commissioner to look at how the vaccination rate in our country can be increased even further. Imposing an obligation is one of the possible options, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at the time.

Last Monday it was already decided that healthcare personnel should be vaccinated. From 1 April, a refusal would lead to dismissal, it was said at the time. PS chairman Paul Magnette later questioned the compromise. He made it clear that compulsory dismissal was not possible as long as the vaccination obligation did not apply to the entire population. That is why we met again on Friday. (hh, sgg)

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