Unvaccinated health care staff in France face suspension

300,000 still not jabbed; hospitals fear staff shortages will add to strain

Healthcare workers in France face suspension starting today if they haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19. With about 300,000 workers still not vaccinated, some hospitals fear staff shortages will add to their strain.

Vaccines are now compulsory for medical care, home care and emergency workers in France, and yesterday was the deadline for such staff to have had at least one shot. Failing that, they face having pay suspended or not being able to work. But a top court has forbidden staff to be fired outright.

The mandate was approved by France’s parliament over the summer, after the government insisted that the measure was needed to protect patients and the public from new surges of Covid-19. More than 113,000 people with the virus have died in France, and health authorities say most of those hospitalised in the most recent surge weren’t vaccinated.