Healthcare workers who have not been vaccinated against covid-19 can be reinstated in mid-May, according to the Minister of Health, François Braun.
- About 4,000 caregivers have been suspended since September 2021 due to their refusal to be vaccinated against covid-19.
- After the lifting of the vaccination obligation last March, the Minister of Health announced their possible reinstatement from mid-May.
- The implementing decree is scheduled for mid-May.
The lifting of the covid-19 vaccination obligation for healthcare professionals by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) on March 31 has led to new questions about healthcare professionals who have refused to be vaccinated against SARS -CoV-2 suspended for 18 months.
In newspaper interview Country Briard during a trip to the Marne on April 28, the Minister of Health announced the forthcoming reintegration of these caregivers into their service.
Anti-covid vaccine: suspended caregivers reinstated from mid-May
A month after the HAS decision concerning the vaccination against the coronavirus of health professionals, François Braun expressed his desire to follow the recommendations of the organization which he had seized on the question in the fall. The reintegration of non-vaccinated caregivers will be authorized.
“In recent weeks, I have brought together all the stakeholders, because I want the reintegration to take place, but in good conditions”, he explained to the regional biweekly. “The non-vaccinated are not necessarily expected with flowers in all departments and everywhere”, he acknowledged.
The date of their return has been planned. “The instruction is ready. I will sign it at the very beginning of next week (from May 2, editor’s note). The implementing decree will be for mid-May”he added.
Covid vaccine not mandatory: “It’s a bad message sent”
According to the French hospital federation, around 4,000 caregivers have been suspended since September 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated against covid-19. This represents 0.3% of the country’s hospital staff. To reinstate them, the government relied on the opinion of the HAS which recommended that vaccination against the coronavirus should no longer be compulsory, but “strongly recommended”. However, some doctors have expressed their opposition to the project since last March.
“We are deeply disgusted, and it’s a collective feeling!”had entrusted Jérôme Marty, general practitioner and president of the French Union for a free medicine to BFM.
“This will create tension in the services, and above all, those who have lost their jobs are the most extreme! They will proselytize antivax!”added the caregiver.
The head of emergencies at the Delafontaine hospital center in Seine-Saint-Denis, Mathias Wargon, had for his part explained at the microphone of RMC : “It is a message sent to antivax. We are a very antivax country, telling them that vaccination against Covid is no longer compulsory, but also that against DTP… It is a bad message sent”.
