Health officials may be fired if they don’t get vaccinated

(CRHoy.com) The mandatory nature of the vaccine against COVID-19 continues to generate confusion and controversy even within the Executive Power itself.

President Rodrigo Chávez contradicted the Minister of Health, Joselyn Chacón, on dismissals for refusing inoculation against the virus in the health sector.

The hierarch emphasized on May 25 on the open processes in the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) a officials who omit the vaccine and stated that this caused him “anguish” to see how “people are fired from their jobs.”

“To date, the Minister of Health is requesting the updated data; however, he is aware of several open processes against officials who have rejected the vaccine ”Chacón said through the press area of ​​the ministry.

However, during his tour of the North Zone, President Chaves bluntly said that employees in this sector could be fired if they do not inject themselves against the virus.

“Because if a person comes with a deficient, compromised or sick immune system, a healthcare worker should not expose her to any disease, including COVID”commented the president.

This is not the first time that Chaves and Chacón do not agree on issues related to the pandemic. When asked about the masks, during her appointment as minister, the 30-year-old doctor commented that for the moment it was not in their plans to eliminate its obligation and it would be a gradual process, starting with some places and keeping it in closed spaces such as public transport and medical centers.

However, when assuming the mandate last May 8, the president and the hierarch signed a decree that repealed the obligation to use this protection mechanism in all sectors, except health establishments.

Chacón also recognized the work of his predecessor in dealing with the health emergency due to COVID-19, while the president has been critical of the way in which the Alvarado administration handled the issue.

Will review technical criteria

In the press conference he held in San Carlos, the president also mentioned that will review the document with the technical-scientific support sent by the National Commission for Vaccination and Epidemiology (CNVE) on the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.

“I was outside (the country) they have delivered some reports (the vaccine commission), I have to evaluate them (…) The government’s position has not changed and I will have to evaluate together with the Minister of Health, what the commission sent and the scientific validity of it (…) That is all I am going to do, evaluate what they sent,” he said.

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