Once again, vaccine coverage against Covid-19 provokes its share of questions and misinformation. This concerns caregivers, who have been required to be vaccinated for more than a year. France is the last European country to maintain this rule, which many elected officials and certain personalities oppose. Unvaccinated professionals, probably several thousand, are therefore still suspended. We take stock.
Only 8% of caregivers received a reminder
“Only 8% of caregivers made a Covid reminder according to official data this morning! Proof that the suspended had seen right! exclaimed sovereigntist Florian Philippot on Friday morning. The old issue of the National Gathering refers to data made public the day before by Public Health France.
In its weekly epidemiological update, the health agency indicates that “the booster vaccination coverage adapted to the Omicron variant among health professionals is estimated at 7.3% among those working in nursing homes, 8.3% among liberals and 8, 4% among those working in a health establishment”.
At first glance, this could prove Florian Philippot and all those who shared similar messages right. Except that these vaccines adapted to the Omicron variant, known as “bivalent”, have only been available since the beginning of October. Above all, not all caregivers are eligible. At least six months must pass since the last dose of vaccine received, and three months since a possible Covid infection.
In addition, the vast majority of caregivers received a first booster dose of vaccine, at the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022. Nearly 20% of them also received a second booster dose, either last summer or well the last few weeks. A very small part, less than 2%, even received three vaccine boosters.
In other words, many caregivers received their first booster dose several months or even more than a year ago. Only a small part of them received a second one subsequently, the others do not wish to do so, have not had the opportunity, or do not yet meet the eligibility criteria.
Caregivers without a callback this fall should be suspended
For some Internet users, caregivers who have not received a reminder recently should be suspended, just like those not vaccinated at all. On October 15, 2021, the obligation for caregivers to have received at least one dose of vaccine to continue working came into force. A month later, they absolutely had to have received a complete vaccination schedule. Then, on January 30, the booster dose was integrated into this vaccination obligation. As we have seen, the vast majority of caregivers respect the rule. On the other hand, since the 2nd reminder was opened to health professionals who wish it last summer, this one “does not fall within the scope of the vaccination obligation”.
Caregivers who have not received a second booster dose of vaccine, whether several months ago or very recently, therefore do not have to be suspended since this injection is not mandatory to continue working. . The fact remains that “each caregiver has a duty to set an example, responsibility and solidarity”, estimated the boss of the Public Assistance – Paris Hospitals (AP-HP), Nicolas Revel, in Le Parisien Tuesday, December 13. A message asking “to be many more to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid” was sent to all AP-HP staff on Friday morning.