With a law decree decided yesterday, the Italian Government enacted two interesting new rules aimed at health care professionals (“HCPs“):

1. Criminal liability of HCPs administering vaccines for the crimes of manslaughter and personal injuries is excluded, provided that the vaccinations follow the indications of the authorization of the specific vaccine and the decisions of the Ministry of Health;
2. The obligation of HCPs to be vaccinated is introduced: HCPs refusing to undergo vaccination may be assigned to different duties or her/his remuneration may be suspended. The constitutionality of this obligation has been often discussed, but most scholars believe that – on the basis of the Constitutional Court jurisprudence (especially decision no. 5 of 2018, drafted by Ms. Cartabia, who is now part of the government) – there is no doubt about compliance of this provision with the Italian Constitution. Vaccination is in fact aimed at not only preserving health for the individual who is vaccinated, but also other people’s health, and consequences of vaccination are tolerable.

Hopefully the above provisions will help the vaccination campaign move faster. I certainly cannot wait to roll up my sleeve!

Happy Easter!