Hanff does not believe that a vaccine mandate for people working in the health sector is the right way forward. She argued that raising awareness and informing people of advantages is a better solution.
The ANIL president also noted that in her eyes, the question of a mandate will soon be redundant, given that the general population is still enthusiastic about getting vaccinated.
Hanff explained that the initial hesitancy was to be expected and that concerns are natural, especially given the bad reputation that AstraZeneca got early on. She further refuted any claims that people in the health sector are too selfish to get vaccinated: "If it was really all about us, we all would have called in sick right at the beginning of the pandemic."
When asked about the Waringo report, concerned with the implementation of safety protocols in senior and care homes, Hanff expressed her belief that the analysis lacks depth. At the same time, the findings confirm what staff members lamented for months: unclear recommendations, responsibilities, and quality criteria for the sector. Furthermore, ANIL would have welcomed constructive criticism as to why some institutions had more cases than others, as well as improvement recommendations. Another report or audit would be helpful, Hanff concluded.
Finally, Hanff addressed the dual patronage of the sector, shared between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Family Affairs and Integration. She noted that this already caused problems before the pandemic: "For us, it does not matter who gives us the recommendations." Due to the communication problems between all involved parties, ANIL intended to create its own recommendations, but lacked the necessary staff to do so.
