Sineva Ribeiro, chairwoman of the care association, is concerned that the number of patients in the intensive care units in the country is increasing.
There are very few specialist nurses with a focus on intensive care, she says.
- Should we not vaccinate that staff and they themselves become ill, we have no staff who can care (the patients), says Sineva Ribeiro.
Prioritization scheme
The regions' plan for vaccination of healthcare staff has been too poor and the work is too slow, Sineva Ribeiro believes.
- If there is an increased spread of infection and more hospitalizations, we need all staff on site.
Therefore, I think that the regions should have planned to vaccinate these groups that we lack in health care much earlier, she says.
Healthcare staff can be offered a refill dose if the region deems it possible without delaying the vaccination of other groups, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency's priority order for the third dose of covid-19 vaccine.
FHM and SKR in referral war
SVT has contacted the Swedish Public Health Agency, which does not want to answer any questions about the third dose to healthcare staff at the moment.
FHM refers to the fact that the responsibility for the implementation of vaccinations lies with the country's regions.
In Sweden's municipalities and regions' interest organization SKR, reference is made back to FHM.
- It is not the regions that set the order of priority, but it sets the Public Health Agency, says Emma Spak, head of health and medical care at SKR.