France suspends 3,000 health workers over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations

*French Health Minister Olivier Veran says some 3,000 suspensions were served on staff in health and social care facilities, who had not yet entered into a vaccination course

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In order to prevent a fresh wave of the damaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the European country, Mr. Olivier Veran, French Minister for Health has announced the suspension of about 3,000 health workers who have not received the virus vaccines.

Veran announced the suspension Thursday, September 16, 2021, after France imposed mandatory vaccinations for its healthcare workers.

The earlier deadline for the vaccinations was set for September 15, agency report noted.

COVID-19 vaccination

ConsumerConnect learnt French President Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron July this year had  imposed mandatory vaccinations on the citizenry so as to increase vaccine acceptance and avert the outbreak of a another wave of infections.

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French Minister for Health Veran told RTL Radio Thursday, “yesterday (Wednesday), some 3,000 suspensions were served on staff in health and social care facilities who had not yet entered into a vaccination course.

“Most of the suspensions are only temporary … many of them have decided to get vaccinated as they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality.”

Government Spokesperson Gabriel Attal also disclosed that over 90 percent of French healthcare workers are vaccinated, and while surveys reveal public support for the vaccine mandate, about 300,000 health workers are yet unvaccinated in the country.

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Recall that France is not the first country to enforce mandatory vaccinations, just as US President Joe Biden weeks back signed an Executive Order making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Federal employees, contractors, and businesses with over 100 employees.

Late May 2021, Italy equally enforced mandatory vaccinations for health workers, report said.

The country plans to expand the measure to all its citizens and become the first in Europe to make the vaccination mandatory for all, pending European Union (EU) health authorities’ full approval.