Background information

Considering the current development of interest in COVID-19 vaccination and to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, every effort should be made to increase the interest of seniors (60+) in vaccination. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of COVID-19 and it is proposed to introduce financial incentives through the provision of financial reward for seniors. As the State has an obligation to protect the public health, this measure can be considered as a measure taken in the public interest. The proposed measure (Act 469/2021 Coll. and Act 552/2021 Coll.) will not only contribute to saving many lives, but also has a potential to bring significant savings in health care expenditures and to prevent negative impacts on the financial management of the Slovak Republic.

Content of measure

To support anti-pandemic measures, the Ministry of Finance will provide financial reward for seniors, according to the amendments to Act no. 67/2020 Coll. on certain emergency financial measures in relation to the spread of COVID-19.

Financial reward will be provided to a natural person who meets the following conditions:

• has reached the age of at least 60 by the end of 2021;
• has a permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia;
• was vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease in Slovakia.

The amount of the one-off financial reward will be €300 for people vaccinated with the third booster dose by 31 January 2022 at the latest. While €200 will be paid to people vaccinated with at least the first or second vaccine dose by the same date.

The Government may prolong deadlines for vaccination or deadlines for registration for such vaccination, but by not more than eight weeks.

Use of measure

The total amount of financial reward depends on the number of people making such a claim. Therefore, the overall impact on the state budget can only be estimated. Assuming the number of seniors in Slovakia (1,200,000 people) and the average financial reward at €300, the impact of this measure would be about €360 million. The amount of financial assistance is estimated at a lower amount, as it is expected that not all eligible persons will apply for the reward and that they will not use its full sum.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Older citizens The COVID-19 risk group

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Social partners were not involved in preparation of the measure via usual tripartite consultations nor via cross-sector commenting procedures.

Views and reactions

Unknown.

Sources

• 11 December 2021: Act no. 469/2021 Coll., amending Act no. 67/2020 Coll. on certain emergency financial measures in relation to the spread of dangerous contagious human disease COVID-1 (www.slov-lex.sk)
• 31 December 2021: Government Regulation no. 552/2021 Coll. on extending the deadlines for the provision of financial assistance for the elderly (www.slov-lex.sk)