“This vaccination should however remain strongly recommended”, specifies the HAS, in a notice made public on Monday.
The subject arouses many debates, at a time when the public hospital is sorely understaffed. Should we maintain the obligation to vaccinate against Covid-19 for caregivers? The High Authority for Health (HAS), whose opinions are normally followed by the government, paved the way for the end of this imperative, Monday February 20, however reserving its final opinion for the end of March.
>> Hospital crisis: the irremediable questions raised by the possible reintegration of caregivers not vaccinated against Covid-19
“In the current context, the vaccination obligation against Covid-19 could be lifted for all the professionals concerned” 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, specifies the HAS, it is not a question of a final position. The institution will now, in view of “societal importance” of the subject, carry out a public consultation for a month, before issuing a final opinion at the end of March.
For a partial maintenance of the obligation to vaccinate against hepatitis B
Since 2021, all caregivers – and more generally anyone working in a hospital environment – must be vaccinated against Covid to be able to practice their profession. The subject generated considerable debate. Several opposition forces – La France insoumise, the National Rally – are calling for 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 against 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.