Health Board PR chief to lose job after criticizing immunization plan

Head of Communications for the Health Board Simmo Saar. Photo: Remo Tõnismäe

Head of Communications for the Health Board Simmo Saar will be forced to resign after he was identified to be behind anonymous criticism of Estonia’s inoculation plan.

Why did you decide to reveal your identity?

My goal is not to criticize the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health Board or the government without grounds. I am concerned. I am concerned as a citizen, father and partner. When I look at how Estonia has planned coronavirus vaccinations, I find it has been done too late. And while we are told there is a brilliant plan in place, I will be honest in saying that it is no plan. At best, it is an outline of a strategic task.

Talking about a logistics procurement that is still being put together, family doctors lacking precise immunization guidelines and trainings not yet held today, I would say we do not have a plan.

The first vaccinations in December will be PR events that will very likely be followed by silence. It is probable real vaccination will begin in spring.

What happened after you gave an anonymous interview to Kanal 2 last week?

The show aired on Monday and most of Tuesday was spent analyzing the news story to try and reverse voice distortion. Next it was decided that cooperation with someone who would do something like that is no longer necessary and I have by now been told to start planning my life in a different key.

Have you been fired?

No, I have not. I remain head of communications for the Health Board, but I have been told I should do something else.

Sign a letter of resignation?

Indeed.

Will you?

Is talking about problematic aspects and suggesting we should do better something I should be ashamed of?

What is the existing immunization plan missing in your opinion?

Having a fridge does not equal dinner being served. The vaccines from that freezer must reach healthcare workers who can then vaccinate people. Logistics means having a suitable fleet. The Health Board currently has just one suitably refrigerated truck. I would ask why Germany presented its immunization plan in October, while our vaccination working group wasn’t formed until late November. Why are we so late to the party?

Why did the vaccination process start so late?

This coordination is the ministry’s task. It would not be sensible to pin it all on a state agency.

Are you suggesting the board was saddled with the responsibility in the eleventh hour?

It is hardly anything new. I believe we all remember the crisis in spring and how suddenly everything that was wrong in Estonia was the Health Board’s concern. The ministry did not really wish to deal with the matter and only woke up once people needed to be sent home.

Who will be to blame should the vaccination process take too long?

Looking at how these things have played out recently, it seems the Health Board will take brunt of the blow.

Have you discussed your concerns in-house before turning to the media?

As much as a head of communications can.