Over the next few months, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) will reassess the recommendations and vaccination obligations for health and paramedical professionals.
- Since September 15, 2021, caregivers must be vaccinated against Covid-19.
- According to the National Order of Nurses, 1,022 unvaccinated nurses have been suspended among the 637,000 nurses working in France.
In November 2021, caregivers not vaccinated against Covid-19 were suspended from their duties. Asked about the reinstatement of these health professionals and paramedics in November 2022, François Braun, Minister of Health, said he would make his decision. “after having received two opinions, including that of the High Authority for Health (HAS).“
A reassessment of the vaccination obligations of caregivers
In a statement published on February 8, HAS announced that it will publish new recommendations concerning the vaccination obligations of caregivers in March and July 2023. “HAS will take into account scientific data concerning, among other things, epidemiological situations, vaccine availability, current vaccination coverage and the latest vaccine efficacy and safety data. It will also rely on the opinion of the parties stakeholders who will be able to express themselves on each of the two aspects within the framework of a public consultation”, can we read in the document.
In the first phase scheduled for March 2023, the authority will examine in particular “the relevance of modifying the vaccination obligations in force for diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis B which are imposed on students and professionals in the health and medico-social sectors”. HAS will also study the relevance of maintaining the obligation to vaccinate caregivers against Covid-19.
In July 2022, the HAS will start a second part on the vaccinations currently recommended for students and healthcare staff against whooping cough, influenza, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.
A first public consultation aimed at health stakeholders
In parallel with the work of the HAS, the Minister of Health, François Braun, contacted the National Advisory Council on Ethics for Life and Health Sciences (CCNE) on the ethical issues raised by the vaccination obligations of professionals and their consequences.
A first public consultation will soon be set up for the first part of the work. HAS will address “stakeholders its draft recommendation” in order to collect the opinion of the various players concerned (patient associations, learned societies, national colleges, unions of health professionals, etc.). An online questionnaire will therefore be available from February 17 to March 3.