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Deputy Minister of Health Aušra Bilotienė-Motiejūnienė said that COVID-19 is decreasing in beds in medical institutions
“That is why the objective is to vaccinate people as much as possible, because the vaccine is available to everyone. Of the seriously ill, only 5 percent have been vaccinated. More and more people are not vaccinated. Therefore, we suggest that mandatory tests are no longer reimbursed. We want to have as few people as possible ”, commented the vice minister.
Aušrinė Storpirštienė, a lawyer for the Ministry of Health, noted that employees will only be able to work after they have been vaccinated.
“Vaccination will only be possible with a vaccine approved by the government, since not all vaccines are recognized and used in the country. Vaccination will be possible due to medical contraindications, virus transmission or lack of availability of vaccines.
Unvaccinated workers will need to work remotely or be reassigned or removed from their position. And you will have to pay for the test yourself, unless you cannot get vaccinated due to unavailability of vaccines or medical contraindications. It is proposed that this procedure take effect on November 1 ”, commented the lawyer.
A. Bilotienė-Motiejūnienė stated that the state has spent enough money to make the vaccine available, therefore the goal is to vaccinate people.
Pandemic management on the shoulders of workers?
Inga Ruginienė, president of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, stated that she did not expect such a proposal.
“It is necessary to make a distinction between vaccination and tests. The use of force to vaccinate workers is not the right way. What if we vaccinate everything but still get sick? Also, it is silly that it is possible not to wear masks with a passport of opportunity. Translation of vaccination will increase stress at work. After all, it is not necessary to be vaccinated, a person can work after taking the test.
Employers can order a medical check-up, but must pay for the process themselves or be assisted by the state. The employer must provide work equipment and take care of the employees’ health, ”said I. Ruginienė.
He said that the management of the pandemic is falling on the workers.
“Some people can’t get vaccinated because they don’t want to. People don’t get vaccinated because they don’t allow employers to do it.
Also, it is silly that it is possible not to wear masks with a passport of opportunity. We understand that the pandemic must be managed and that everyone must wear masks, ”said the employee representative.
In response to the comment on the masks, A. Bilotienė-Motiejūnienė noted that only during quarantine can the masks be said to be mandatory.
“Masks have been recommended throughout the summer. The institutions themselves choose or allow people to be without masks. The catering organization may not meet the strict conditions. It is a question of attitude.
A week ago we had 200 patients, now there are 400 patients. Then it shows the seriousness of the situation ”, commented the deputy minister.
You want to promote vaccination
Andrius Romanovskis, president of the Lithuanian Business Confederation, said workers ‘and employers’ representatives should promote vaccination, not testing.
“The bill will not change anything. Some groups already need to be screened and vaccinated. The only change is that people will pay for the tests themselves. A person will have to be vaccinated on their own money, unless the employee is so it is necessary for the employer to pay for the tests himself, ”said A. Romanovskis.
Kristina Krupavičienė, director of the Lithuanian union Solidarumas, said that employees should not be ignored, people lack information, others do not like being forced to do something.
“It just came to our attention then. This problem can be solved peacefully, as most people are vaccinated or sick. Why can’t we provide evidence?
I paid 75 euros for my test. They cost a lot, “said the employee representative.
Evalda Šiškauskienė, president of the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association, responded to statements by employee representatives, saying that the pandemic was not due to the fault of the employers and that they did not have to pay for it.
“Companies in our sector are in debt. Also, I think that everyone needs to do the test, because everyone has contact with people. If the chef works alone in the kitchen, but his plate is brought by the waiter, and after work he returns home by bus.
And people lack knowledge and information. The unions oppose the people. After all, there is a choice between getting vaccinated or getting tested, ”said E. Šiškauskienė.
Ričardas Sartatavičius, the head of the Lithuanian Industrial Confederation, said that everyone wants to take off their masks, they are already tired of everyone.
“We just realized that the pandemic had to end. Anyone who doesn’t want to get vaccinated on a whim must pay for it. There are rules to follow. We need to protect ourselves and others, ”said R. Sartatavičius.
Don’t want to get vaccinated, but is it necessary?
The Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor, Vytautas Šilinskas, also said that people do not want to do what you force them to do.
“But it is a pandemic, we had a similar situation a hundred years ago. We all want a choice, but we don’t choose to wear a seatbelt in a car or not. When a bad situation arises, you have to choose between bad and worse things. The most important thing is that people stay alive.
We still don’t have better solutions. We see that people are vaccinated, perhaps sometimes there is nothing like forcing them to take care of their health, ”said V. Šilinskas.
Danas Arlauskas, president of the Lithuanian Employers’ Confederation, said there is a lot of information, but everyone has questions about vaccines and tests.
“There is a lot of uncertainty, and once the law is passed, it is no longer the time to interpret it. Many questions, what is a contact service, the relationship of the store with the cashier is already in contact or not?
People need to be polite and calm their passions, ”assured the employer representative.
Aurelija Maldutytė, representative of the Lithuanian Employment Companies Association, said that the tests should be available and inexpensive.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Not everyone should object. Because even vaccinated countries do not show the best results. I would like to work in a safe environment where everyone is vaccinated, but I need to learn to work together,” A noted. Maldutytė.
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