Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is proposing a temporary amendment to the Communicable Diseases Act which would obligate employees in the social and healthcare sector to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.

The amendment only applies to those working closely with patients in high-risk groups and would come into effect immediately if it were approved, according to ministry representatives.

However, it would also include a transitional period of one month for the necessary vaccine arrangements to be made.

According to ministry representatives, the amendment seeks to prevent social and healthcare staff from exposing patients who are at risk of severe illness to the virus.

Risk groups include elderly people living in care homes and those with a serious long-term illness.

The vaccine mandate would apply to all employees in the healthcare sector, such as nurses and doctors, as well as anyone who works closely with at-risk groups, including cleaners and those providing food in nursing homes.

According to the proposal, employees would have to submit proof that they have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus less than six months before their shift starts.

Workers could refuse to take the vaccine if they have a valid medical reason for the same. In such a case, they would have to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test result obtained no more than 72 hours before the start of their shift.

The amendment would also grant employers in the social and healthcare sector the right to acquire information about staff's vaccination status.

Additionally, it would make the employer responsible for ensuring healthcare workers do not pose a threat to high-risk patients.

The proposal will be submitted to the parliament for approval. If it gets the green light from lawmakers, the new rules would be valid till the end of 2022.