In France, the vaccine against Covid-19 became mandatory this Wednesday for healthcare staff. Healthcare professionals must have received at least one dose in order to continue to exercise. This measure concerns 2.7 million people.
If the majority of French caregivers have played the game, a minority remains strongly opposed to it. This Wednesday, nearly 300 health professionals demonstrated in front of the Regional Health Agency in Montpellier.
Nine out of ten caregivers vaccinated
At the other end of France, the Vauban polyclinic in Valenciennes is a good student, with 100% of caregivers having received their injection.
“For some people it was much more difficult, but the discussion made it very positive“underlines the Dr Virginie Brabant, emergency manager.
The French government is satisfied with the vaccination obligation, which has “bearing fruit“according to spokesperson Gabriel Attal.”We passed from 64% of caregivers vaccinated in early July to more than nine out of ten today“he said during the press briefing following the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
And to remember that “caregivers who have not received any dose of vaccine may be suspended by their directorates. Those who have only received one dose will have a tolerance period until October 15, time to receive their second dose.“.
The FO union asks for a delay
Paramedics, firefighters and liberal caregivers are also concerned. 300,000 people must still receive their dose to be able to exercise, otherwise some establishments could be understaffed.
The CGT, one of the main unions, which called for demonstrations on Tuesday against the vaccine obligation, warned of a “health catastrophe” if the refractory staff can no longer exercise.
FO-Santé for its part demanded from the government “additional time” to defuse “unmanageable situations” in certain hospitals, where “closures of services and beds are being considered” because of the insufficient number of vaccinated agents.
Even the number one of the reformist union CFDT, Laurent Berger, asked Thursday to “avoid as much as possible that people are sanctioned”.
But the executive remains firm. “We will not back down”, warned the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, at the end of August, while the Minister of Health Olivier Véran promised “systematic checks”.
The administration is in tune: “We will not tremble if there are suspensions to pronounce”, says the director of the regional health agency (ARS) of the Paris region, Amélie Verdier.
“We hope that those who are still hesitant will be convinced by the firmness displayed,” she adds.
A growing number of countries, such as Greece, Italy, Hungary, Australia, Canada, Gambia, Zimbabwe … impose vaccination against Covid-19 to certain professional categories in health, tourism or administration.
Reference-feedproxy.google.com