Not Vaccinated Against COVID-19, France Suspends 3,000 Health Workers Without Pay

Illustration of health workers during COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons/Mstyslav Chernov)

JAKARTA - Thousands of health workers across France have been suspended without pay for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 by this week's deadline, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday.

"About 3,000 suspensions were notified yesterday to employees at health centers and clinics who have not been vaccinated," Minister Veran told RTL radio as quoted by CNA Thursday, September 16.

"That compares to 2.7 million health workers overall," Minister Veran continued, adding that sustainable health was guaranteed.

Earlier, President Emmanuel Macron gave an ultimatum to staff at hospitals, nursing home workers and the fire service last July, to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 15 or face an unpaid suspension.

Many nurses, in particular, are reluctant to be vaccinated, citing safety or efficacy concerns, posing a risk that France's COVID-19 vaccination push could stall.

France's national public health agency estimated last week that about 12 percent of hospital staff and about 6 percent of doctors in private practice had not received a COVID-19 vaccination.

Overall, about 70 percent of French people have received the two doses required for a complete COVID-19 vaccination, which is available to everyone over the age of 12, one of the highest rates in the world.

However, about 74 percent of the population has only received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, indicating that many still have not been vaccinated, even though it is widely available and affordable.