The High Authority for Health (HAS), whose opinion is normally followed by the government, paved the way on Monday for the end of compulsory anti-Covid vaccination among caregivers, however reserving its final opinion for the end of March.
“In the current context, the obligation to vaccinate once morest Covid-19 might be lifted for all the professionals targeted” by this constraint, judged the HAS, in a draft opinion made public on its site.
“This vaccination should however remain strongly recommended, in particular for professions for which a vaccination recommendation is currently in force for influenza”, she warns.
But this is not a definitive position. The institution will now, in view of the “societal importance” of the subject, conduct a public consultation for a month, before issuing a final opinion at the end of March.
Since 2021, all caregivers – and more generally anyone working in a hospital environment – must be vaccinated once morest Covid to be able to practice their profession.
The subject generated considerable debate. Several opposition forces – on the left, France insoumise (LFI), on the far right, the National Rally (RN) – demand the reinstatement of unvaccinated caregivers.
The government, as well as many health professionals, are opposed to it for medical and ethical reasons.
However, the executive has decided to rely on the HAS which it has more generally entered on all the compulsory vaccines for caregivers. They also include those once morest hepatitis B, as well as diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis (combined in the DTP vaccine).
For the DTP vaccine, the HAS is leaning towards lifting the obligation with the exception of caregivers in Mayotte, which is very exposed to diphtheria.
For hepatitis B, she is in favor of a partial maintenance of the obligation, targeted on caregivers exposed to a high risk of contamination. This is particularly the case for doctors exposed to blood, such as surgeons.
The HAS also intends to decide later on another aspect: vaccines which are only recommended for caregivers, such as influenza or measles.
Its work is carried out in parallel with that of the National Ethics Council (CCNE), which must also rule, at the request of the government, on the situation of suspended caregivers.