Unvaccinated healthcare workers will soon face consequences. But who will implement the Corona partial vaccination from March 15 and how? The differences are big.
Berlin – In Germany, the so-called facility-related corona vaccination will soon apply. By Tuesday (March 15), employees in care facilities, clinics and medical practices must be vaccinated against the coronavirus* and submit the relevant evidence.
From Wednesday (March 16), according to the Federal Ministry of Health *, health authorities can implement compulsory vaccination in these professions and, if necessary, draw consequences. But in many places the offices rely on multi-stage procedures that can drag on, as a survey by the German Press Agency shows.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Brandenburg
The health authorities initially give the unvaccinated employees a period of three weeks to submit proof of vaccination or recovery or a certificate of exemption from the obligation to vaccinate. If a vaccination series has started, there are no bans on entering or working for six weeks. A second reminder may follow with offers of advice and vaccination appointments. Employees could only be denied access to facilities if this does not lead to proof of vaccination either.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Saxony
The health authorities should check carefully whether homes and hospitals can still be supplied before issuing entry bans for unvaccinated employees. Some districts have already announced that the individual examinations are likely to last into the summer.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Saxony-Anhalt
The health department asks those affected to submit proof. The investigations of the office follow, if necessary with a medical examination, hearings, a penalty payment or fine. In a decree on compulsory vaccination, the state points out the discretionary power. “Not every breach of the facility-related vaccination requirement necessarily leads to a ban on entry or activity.” This should be refrained from if this significantly endangers medical or nursing care in the respective district or urban district.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Thuringia
From Wednesday, the facilities must report to the health authorities who is unvaccinated in them. This is followed by months of administrative proceedings with individual reviews and hearings of employees and employers. The health authorities should decide at their discretion who, as a last resort, is no longer allowed to come to work. This decision should also include whether the operation can be ensured without the employees concerned.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
The employer must report to the health department who is not vaccinated. Then a procedure with a hearing starts, and at the end there is a discretionary decision according to the Ministry of Health. It could take several weeks, they said. Employees can still be vaccinated during this time, then there will be no consequences.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Lower Saxony
According to the Ministry of Health, the health authorities first ask unvaccinated employees to submit proof of vaccination or a certificate. The facilities are recommended to initially use the employees concerned away from patients. If no proof is presented, a hearing could follow with the threat of a fine – this fine is 1,500 euros for a full-time position. After that, a fine of up to 2500 euros can be imposed. If no proof is provided, the health department can issue a ban on entry or activity.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Schleswig-Holstein
After reporting an unvaccinated employee, the health department initiates an administrative procedure. Affected employees can continue to work in the facilities after Tuesday until their case has been reviewed. The health department then makes a discretionary decision and can order a ban on entry or activity in individual cases.
Institution-related corona vaccination requirement: Bremen
Anyone who has been reported as unvaccinated will be informed from Wednesday that proof of vaccination must be submitted and that a period of four weeks will be given for this. After the deadline, employees will be asked again to submit proof of vaccination. At the same time, an employment ban is threatened. In addition, the non-vaccinated employees are given the opportunity to be heard. If no proof of vaccination is available after another four weeks, a ban on activity will be issued.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Baden-Württemberg
If the employees have not submitted proof of vaccination by Tuesday, these unvaccinated employees will be reported to the health authorities with their name and contact details. The authorities then give the employees concerned a period of probably two weeks to submit the proof. If the readiness to vaccinate is signaled by then or if the vaccinations have already started, there is another deadline. If no evidence is then submitted either, so-called activity or care bans can be imposed. However, the health authorities have a margin of discretion and can make decisions on a case-by-case basis. There are also fines.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Hamburg
Unvaccinated employees should be contacted by the health department within two weeks and asked to submit valid proof within one month. If this does not happen, the health department will decide whether an activity ban or an entry ban will be issued. Each individual case should be checked. Criteria such as the vaccination rate in the facility, the current number of staff or the possibility of recruiting staff from other sources should also be taken into account.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Rhineland-Palatinate
If the vaccination certificates are not submitted by March 15, 2022, or if there are any doubts, the management of the facility concerned must report this immediately to the responsible health authority. Unvaccinated employees will be asked to provide the necessary evidence and given two weeks to do so. If the proof is not provided even then, a fine of 500 euros will usually be imposed. In addition, the employees are forbidden to enter the facility, it said.
Facility-related corona vaccination requirement: Saarland
If there is no proof, the health authorities should contact the reported persons. In the second step, an order will be issued to provide proof of immunity. Failure to do so will result in a fine. According to the Ministry of Health, there is no ban on entry or activity during the procedure.
Facility-related corona vaccination requirement: Hesse
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, the facility will initially report to the health authorities by the end of March which employees have not submitted any proof. The health department should then ask these employees to submit this proof. A four-week period applies. If this does not happen, the health department can impose a fine – in Hesse there is a risk of 2500 euros. Only in a last step does the health department – with the involvement of the facility – examine a possible ban on activities. This should take effect no earlier than six weeks after the decision of the health department.
Facility-related corona vaccination requirement: North Rhine-Westphalia
The health department should contact unvaccinated employees and request proof. If there is no response, a fine of up to 2500 euros could be imposed. If the employees concerned fail to provide evidence within a “reasonable period of time” or do not follow the request for a medical examination, the health authorities could prohibit entry to the facility or work there, according to the Ministry of Health.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Bavaria
The health authorities should give those affected the chance to reconsider their decision. The aim is to convince as many previously unvaccinated people as possible. The offer of advice is then followed by a formal request to submit the legally stipulated evidence to the health department. If this is not done, fine proceedings will be initiated. “Ultimately – but only as a last resort – a ban on entry can be issued,” said the Ministry of Health.
Institution-related corona vaccination obligation: Berlin
Berlin implements the facility-related vaccination requirement, taking into account the security of supply. This means that the health authorities assess how much health care could be at risk and can suspend a procedure on this basis if necessary. There are therefore no automatic entry or activity bans for employees who do not present the necessary vaccination certificates. In this case, the employees who have not submitted the required evidence may continue to work for the time being. If there is no risk in the care according to the data collected, the health authorities initiate a fine procedure. (dpa/frs) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
