So far, there have been two layoffs at the Steinhöring facility association (EVS), three at the Ebersberger district clinic and a number of announcements at Pflegestern: employees from the healthcare sector who will or at least want to turn their backs on their industry because of the facility-related vaccination requirement. How this is to be assessed is up to the management of the three Kosens facilities: “The consequences are catastrophic,” says Peter Haile, head of the care star, for example. “Because it must be clear to everyone that those affected not only switch from one facility to another, but are lost to the entire system” – a system that was already dominated by the lack of skilled workers before Corona and an industry-specific vaccination requirement.
Since March 16, the federal regulation in force, which sets three conditions for being allowed to work in the healthcare sector: a double corona vaccination, a previous corona infection or a medical certificate that explains a medical reason that makes vaccination impossible. From October 1st onwards, a triple vaccination must have been carried out for complete vaccination protection. The recovered status is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
As of Monday afternoon, 257 people who have no vaccination or recovered status have been reported to the Ebersberg health department. Originally, the number was 351, according to the authority. However, the subsequent check revealed that in 94 cases those affected had been vaccinated, or they had submitted proof of a past corona infection. There are also facilities in the district that have not yet reported anything to the health department. However, this could also be due to the fact that the entire staff in the respective company is vaccinated. The number of all employees in the industry is not available to the health department, so no statement can be made about what percentage of those affected by this compulsory vaccination are currently not vaccinated or have not recovered.
The vaccination rate in the facilities is very high everywhere
But one thing seems clear: Everywhere in the health care system, the vaccination rate is very high, significantly higher than in the general population – at least that applies to the district clinic, Pflegestern and EVS. In the clinic, the vaccination rate is more than 90 percent, 145 employees are not fully vaccinated, as clinic boss Stefan Huber reports. Some of them currently have a recovered status, he has six certificates. Almost 94 percent reports Peter Haile from the nursing star, where 19 employees from the 300-strong workforce are neither vaccinated nor recovered. At EVS, about 92 percent of staff are fully vaccinated. “But with around 1,000 employees that we have with us, that’s still 80 people,” says Managing Director Gertrud Hanslmeier-Prockl.
The positions of the two employees who have given up their job at EVS because of compulsory vaccination have already been advertised. However, there can be no talk of a replacement for a long time. “We’ve always advertised jobs anyway, that’s the way it is in our industry,” says Hanslmeier-Prockl. Because of the shortage of skilled workers, EVS worked with temporary employment agencies from time to time, even before Corona, in order to be able to compensate for staff shortages. In the meantime, this cooperation has become even closer – had to become closer. Because not only the existing and still imminent reduction in employees due to compulsory vaccination is a problem, but also the enormously high level of sick leave among staff due to corona infections. “We have also asked former employees to come back or volunteer for us.” But that seems to be a drop in the bucket, because Hanslmeier-Prockl also says: “If the legal regulation stays as it is currently planned, then even more employees will leave, so that we will have to close groups.”
The law provides for a multi-stage procedure for unvaccinated personnel: Those affected are informed in writing of the request to be vaccinated with a deadline set, as well as the voluntary offer of medical advice. Then there is a fine of up to 2500 euros. As a last step, the health department can issue a ban on entry and employment.
Vaccination is not compulsory in day-care centers – unvaccinated staff could migrate there
“Nobody will pay the fine,” says Hanslmeier-Prockl. And why should they, because many of the employees at EVS could, with their qualifications, easily switch to a day-care center for children without disabilities, for example. Vaccination is not compulsory for employees there.
Peter Haile from the nursing star also fears that other employees will leave. “I don’t have a single argument to convince anyone to get vaccinated if, in case of doubt, the person to be cared for and their relatives don’t have to be themselves.” Like Hanslmeier-Prockl and Huber, the head of the nursing star is in favor of a general obligation to vaccinate, a selective one does not go far enough: This disadvantages exactly that group of people who have been working under extreme conditions and under enormous pressure for more than two years – because that is what happens also to the unvaccinated staff. However, according to Hanslmeier-Prockl, a general obligation to vaccinate would counteract the feeling of some of their unvaccinated employees being pilloried. “Because then it would be fair.”