Ukraine Begins Suspending Workers Subject to Mandatory COVID Vaccination

In particular, this concerns teachers and officials.

Starting November 8, Ukraine began suspending workers subject to mandatory vaccination against coronavirus, in particular officials and teachers. We explain what the Health Ministry order is and what the education workers' union requested. 

Health Ministry order takes effect

Viktor Liashko
Health Minister of Ukraine

The Health Ministry order "On approval of the list of professions, industries and organizations whose workers are subject to mandatory preventive vaccinations" has taken effect. It concerns workers of central executive authorities and their territorial bodies, local state administrations and their structural units, and educational institutions. Workers of these organizations who, as of November 8, do not have at least one COVID-19 vaccination will be suspended from work without pay until they receive a vaccination. 

According to him, employees who have contraindications to vaccination and have provided an appropriate medical certificate cannot be suspended from work. 

Liashko said that Ukraine has already received 31 million doses of vaccine. In particular, over the weekend a batch of the Moderna vaccine was delivered as part of the COVAX initiative. 

Also over the weekend, another batch (1,400,000 doses) of Pfizer vaccine, purchased with state budget funds, was delivered. According to Liashko, as of today 36.7% of Ukrainians have received at least one vaccine dose, and 25.6% have completed the full vaccination course. 

Kyiv remains the leader in vaccination coverage: 57% of residents have received one dose, and 45.7% have completed the vaccination course. The minister noted that thanks to vaccination, Ukraine has already managed to save the lives of more than 5,500 people. 

Union appeal

The Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine asked the Cabinet of Ministers not to suspend teachers without coronavirus vaccination from work starting November 8, but to give them another month for vaccination. 

"Suspending people from work as early as November 8 may lead to unpredictable situations that would result in failure to meet requirements for creating the necessary conditions for the educational process, inability to service boiler rooms, cafeterias and building security, and inability to replace absent teachers, etc.", said the union's appeal. 

The union considers it necessary to urgently amend Health Ministry order No. 2153 and paragraph 41-6 of Cabinet resolution No. 1236, postponing their implementation to no earlier than December 8. 

To recall, the Health Ministry, through its order No. 2153, approved the list of professions, industries and organizations whose workers are subject to mandatory preventive COVID vaccinations, including all workers of all educational institutions and research institutions. 

Suspension of teachers

On November 7, Viktor Liashko confirmed that unvaccinated workers of educational institutions must be suspended from work starting November 8. 

Asked whether unvaccinated teachers can go to work on Monday, the Health Minister replied: "Yes. According to current legislation, they will be suspended. For this, the head of the educational institution issues an internal order suspending for the quarantine period people who do not have at least one vaccination against coronavirus disease." 

Liashko commented on the appeal of the education and science workers' union asking not to suspend unvaccinated teachers for now, but to give them another month: "I had a big discussion last week with union representatives, I spoke with them frankly. Unions want the right to work, and I want to ensure the right to life." 

The minister also stated that, according to the Cabinet resolution, educational institutions in "red" zones have the right to operate provided that 100% of staff are vaccinated, but local authorities may introduce additional restrictions. 

Viktor Liashko
Health Minister of Ukraine

Everyone noted a significant rise in morbidity; now we see stabilization at high numbers this week. And when there was such growth, like a snowball, when morbidity grew two to three times from week to week, it was proposed to move the holidays a week earlier, and then to extend them by one more week. There is a Cabinet resolution that allows (educational institutions to operate provided that 100% of staff are vaccinated — ed.), and each region, taking into account the epidemiological situation, can make a stricter decision — extend holidays or offer distance learning.