Misleading: Three thousand nurses and doctors were fired in France for failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

By: Ishita Goel
January 4 2022

Share Article:

The healthcare workers have been suspended and not fired, with most of the suspensions being temporary. Countries worldwide are striving to improve their vaccination drive while anti-vaxxers push misinformation to discourage people from getting vaccinated. Consequently, the health ministries of countries like Italy and France have been forced to imply stiff measures against unvaccinated citizens and encourage immunization. On September 15, France's Ministry for Solidarity and Health's proclaimed rule came into force, making vaccination mandatory for health care workers, care home workers, and fire service staff. President Emmanuel Macron warned workers while giving the notice on July 12, asking them to vaccinate themselves or risk being asked to resign, reports the BBC. Following the president's announcement, Doctolib, the website to book vaccinations, crashed due to many people attempting to get appointments. According to the mandate, people can work with proof of at least one of the required vaccine doses and have until October 15 to get their second dose. Until then, they must also furnish a negative test result (RT-PCR, antigen, self-test supervised by a professional) every 72 hours. On September 16, Olivier Véran, Minister of Solidarity and Health, announced in a press conference with RTL that around 3,000 suspensions were served "to the staff of health establishments, or medico-social, who had not followed" the mandate. Moreover, Véran assured that many of these suspensions were temporary. Explaining the ministry's move, Véran said that many people would decide to be vaccinated after the vaccine mandate, "seeing that the obligation was a reality." Reports even suggest that after a notice was served, workers have registered or have been immunized. Workers who failed to follow the new vaccine rule have been suspended, which would be revoked if they oblige. Also, the suspensions mainly affected support staff and few doctors. However, there have been some resignations, but no one has been fired so far. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.