Following the recommendations from the High Authority for Health (HAS) on the use of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in the vaccine strategy against covid-19, the Minister of Labor Elisabeth Borne and the Secretary of State in charge of occupational health, Laurent Pietraszewski, have just authorized the doctors work to administer this vaccine to employees aged 50 to 64 with co-morbidities.
Since February 25, the occupational health services (OHS), autonomous services and inter-company services, have thus been able to engage in the vaccination campaign among employees who meet the age and co-morbidities criteria as defined by health authorities.
“The occupational health services are experienced professionals in the field of vaccination for the general public. Their main mission is to protect the health of employees. Each year, tens of thousands of employees are vaccinated against influenza by their care. This experience as well as their presence throughout the territory, as close as possible to the field, will facilitate access to the vaccine for the employees concerned “announced Laurent Pietraszewski in a press release.
A ramp-up from March
Concretely, the beginnings were not easy and, according to information collected by Le Parisien, only 10% of occupational physicians were able to vaccinate certain patients, ie 500 physicians than the 5,000 in the territory. In question, the lack of vaccine doses. But also medical confidentiality, which the health services at work come up against. Because if your attending physician has the right to call you, in view of your co-morbidities, to offer to have you vaccinated, companies can only encourage staff to do so via a poster campaign.
Like city physicians, occupational physicians must contact the dispensary pharmacy of their choice to identify themselves and obtain doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the same quota regime. At first, doctors will only have 10 doses, like general practitioners, but this should increase in strength from March.
The occupational physician will organize the appointments in a confidential manner vis-à-vis the employer so that employees who wish to be vaccinated are not classified as “vulnerable”. The vaccination will take place in the premises of the occupational medicine to which the company is attached.
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