senators restore obligatory vaccination for caregivers working in a liberal capability | EUROtoday

The senators authorized, on Sunday, November 23, by present of palms the obligatory vaccination in opposition to influenza for caregivers working in a liberal capability, which had been dominated out by the deputies through the first studying examination of the Social Security price range.

An article of the Social Security financing invoice (PLFSS) supplies in its preliminary model that “subject to recommendation” of the High Authority for Health (HAS), vaccination in opposition to influenza is obligatory for folks residing in nursing houses. The similar obligation, conditional on a advice from the HAS, is supplied for “health professionals exercising, in a liberal capacity, a profession listed in a decree of the Council of State”. This decree ought to specify the “conditions of exercise” caregivers and “exposure to risks of contamination”particularly for the folks for whom they’re accountable.

The article was rejected within the National Assembly, with the RN-UDR and LFI alliance voting in opposition to. The RN had defended the “vaccine freedom” and the “rebellious” had been nervous concerning the destiny of residents who refused. On the opposite, the senators authorized it, not with out first having adopted an modification from the final rapporteur Corinne Imbert (LR) eradicating the vaccination obligation for residents of nursing houses, in opposition to the recommendation of the federal government.

The flu will kill 17,000 folks in 2024

Stressing that the protection price of residents is already excessive (83%), M^me Imbert thought of that the duty posed for residents “sensitive ethical questions, particularly that of consent to care, which are all the more complex to understand for people who may suffer from cognitive disorders”. She added that“no concrete consequences (…) could not be derived from a refusal of vaccination” as a result of “we cannot imagine (…) an expulsion of vulnerable people from their accommodation structures because they refuse to be vaccinated”.

The Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, expressed an unfavorable opinion, emphasizing that the speed of 83% might masks sturdy disparities relying on the institutions.

The HAS should categorical a advice within the spring on obligatory vaccination in 2026 in opposition to influenza for well being professionals working in hospital buildings.

The flu epidemic triggered 17,000 deaths in 2024, an outbreak which had a powerful affect on hospitals and relaunched the delicate query of such an obligation, whereas solely “21% of caregivers are vaccinated against the flu”in response to M^me Rist.