Vaccination obligation for caregivers: the hospital on the alert before September 15

How many will they be? The question is in everyone’s mind at the hospital, on the eve of the application of the vaccination obligation for the million professionals working in a health establishment. How many will go all the way by refusing to comply, under penalty of being suspended?

From September 15, hospital staff must report a complete vaccination schedule, or have received at least a first dose of vaccine (and in this case, justify a negative test every seventy-two hours) – except certificate of contraindication to vaccination or of recovery following contamination by Covid-19.

One thing is certain: at the head of the hospitals, a firm speech dominates as the deadline approaches, in line with the latest government positions. Any recalcitrant will be suspended without pay, starting September 15. “There will be no postponement or exception, the suspensions can be immediate”, we assure the Hospital Federation of France, where we evoke “Hundreds” potential suspensions.

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Announced two months ago by the President of the Republic, the entry into force ” partial »Of the vaccination obligation, instituted by the law of August 5, 2021 relating to the management of the health crisis – which became an obligation to be fully vaccinated a month later -, comes as the level of vaccination has progressed in the environment hospital. 88.1% of salaried nursing staff received at least one dose on September 7, according to Public Health France, an increase of nearly 20 points during the summer.

According to the counters of the hospital management, the figures climbed again on September 13, with nearly 95% of staff up to date with their obligation at the Hospices Civils de Lyon, 91% at the Toulouse University Hospital, or even more than 95% at the Public Assistance-Hospitals of Paris … At the Ministry of Health, it is estimated that ” taking into account the current strong vaccination coverage overall of health professionals, the situations of tension will be localized, and will be followed closely by the local actors ”.

“Our margins are very low”

The suspensions will be the matter of specific cases, the hospital will not be ashore on September 15, assures Professor François René-Pruvot, head of the Conference of Presidents of Medical Commissions Establishing University Hospital Centers (CME-CHU), which has a majority of CHUs above 90% of staff up to date in their obligation. But it can be very complicated to replace some caregivers, because we are already in a context of pressure on the workforce, with absenteeism a little stronger than last year.

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