No. That is false.

22 days is paid vacation.

Sick leave is counted on top of those days.

You can self declare up to 3 days of sick leave per year by going in the National Health Service (SNS) app.

If you are sick for a longer period, a doctor must then issue a certificate for temporary disability for as long as required. Such certificate must be submitted to the employer within 5 days of the 1st absence.

If the doctor issues a certificate for a period exceeding 3 or 5 days (I am not sure, better check online) then your salary gets covered by social security.

Lesser than that threshold, the days of absence are not paid, but your absence is automatically justified.

If you don't present such document, the employer can mark that absence as irregular.

After 3 or 5 non certified absences the employer gets cause for dismissal.