The government has decided: caregivers who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 will not return to their services anytime soon. An arbitration that divides the medical profession, with a large majority in favor, but also unvaccinated caregivers who hoped to return to their jobs.
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A year ago, Christine was a carer for the elderly or disabled. But she had to trade this job for that of housekeeper, because she chose not to be vaccinated. “That’s a shameshe believes, because I liked what I was doing and I think I was doing it well. There are certain days when I say to myself: damn it, why am I not taking care of someone who needs me? Because there are so many needs.” The former caregiver expresses incomprehension, but also a certain resignation. “I have been neglected, as if left behind. Even if they tripled my salary, I would no longer take care of others, I no longer want to”she says.
This government decision is based on the positions of scientists, in particular the High Authority for Health, as Health Minister François Braun explained on Friday. But no matter the consequences: still no vaccine for Christine, who refuses to turn around. Nevertheless, the absence of unvaccinated employees weighs on health establishments and nursing homes, as explained by Dr Catherine Legal, emergency manager at Argenteuil hospital, where ten caregivers are missing. “Do we do what we want, how we want, if we want, when we want? No. Maybe one day, the Covid will disappear like smallpox disappeared, but for the moment, the Covid is fine asset”she says.
“So we stay in a pattern where we have to immunize ourselves, to protect others, to protect ourselves and even more when we are in contact with people who are fragile and who are still dying from it.”
Christine Legal, Emergency Manager at Argenteuil Hospitalat franceinfo
In recent weeks, the Covid unit at Argenteuil hospital has filled up again: almost half of the beds are now occupied.