Sixty MPs voted in favor of compulsory vaccinations, 53 voted against and ten abstained.
"We need to use a whole range of measures to minimize the spread of the virus," said Eugenijus Gentvilas, head of the Liberal Movement's political group in the Seimas.
"Every life is worth the effort of MPs to take measures. If we fail to take measures, we must take some responsibility for each death," he added.
Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte that it is very important to ensure that medical workers can do their work calmly and smoothly and that they are exposed to as few risks as possible.
Meanwhile, Remigijus Zemaitaitis of the Lithuanian Regions Political Group, said that the proposed amendments divide society and politicians and are unnecessary because only about 1 percent of doctors who work directly with patients have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
"All of our fire is directed at the part of society that is conscious and is helping to fight COVID-19," he said.
The amendments were initiated by the government, which said the measure was aimed at ensuring that health and social care facilities can operate safely amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The amendments would have made vaccinations mandatory for people working in health and social care facilities, including those providing services there, such as cleaning and food services.
The requirement would have been put be in place when a state-level extreme situation regime or a lockdown is declared in the country because of the spread of an infectious disease.
It would not have applied to workers who cannot take the jab for medical reasons or those who have recently recovered from the disease.
Under the amendments, unvaccinated workers would not have been allowed to do in-person work. If possible, they would have had to work remotely or will be moved to other positions that do not require mandatory vaccination. If none of this is possible, these workers would have been suspended without pay.
Three months after their suspension, employers would have had the right to terminate their employment without prior notice or severance pay.
Critics of the amendments argue that pandemic management policies should be based on trust and not on coercion.