The COVID-19 pandemic has led to strong protective measures in Finland. The virus has raised many work-related questions among JHL members.
Coronavirus vaccine and work
In Finland, vaccinations against coronavirus started in December 2020.
Health care and social welfare professionals are one of the first vaccine priority groups. Health care workers should get the vaccinations recommended by Finnish health care authorities and the national vaccination programme. This has to do with prevention, client and patient safety and occupational safety.
Taking the vaccine is voluntary, your employer cannot force you to take the vaccine. JHL requires that also the vaccines recommended in working life have been properly tested before use. Vaccines must be safe.
Some people are unable to take the vaccine for medical reasons. If you cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons, turn to your occupational health care for an evaluation of your situation.
Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease
You can receive sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease, if you have been ordered to go into formal quarantine and you cannot be in gainful employment because of the quarantine. In order to check whether you have the right to receive sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease, see the image below. Read also Kela’s instructions on applying for a sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease.
JHL’s members should take the vaccines recommended by Finnish health care authorities. The safety of the coronavirus vaccine may make you suspicious, because the vaccine has been completed in record time.
Vaccines given in Finland are strictly controlled. A vaccine can only get a marketing authorisation when experts have stated that the vaccine is safe and effective. The European Commission grants the marketing authorisation. The decision is made based on an evaluation by the European Medicines Agency.
– There is a lot of false and misleading information on vaccines on the internet. Be critical of your sources and follow information distributed by authorities. After all, vaccination research has been conducted for over 200 years worldwide.
Read more about coronavirus vaccination from this article originally published in December 2020.