Olivier Véran raised the threat of compulsory vaccination for nursing home caregivers on Thursday during an interview on BFM.
Supporting figures, the Minister of Health explained that these personnel were less protected than the general population and that it was not possible that they would put the most vulnerable at risk.
Are we moving towards compulsory vaccination for nursing home care providers at the start of the school year?
In any case, that is what the Minister of Health said he was considering.
By claiming to consider this possibility, Olivier Véran wishes to encourage reluctant staff to take the plunge.
On BFM, Thursday, he denounced the insufficient vaccination against Covid of caregivers in medico-social establishments, which is below the national average.
According to him, this endangers the residents and it is in the name of this that the possibility of forcing the hand of the refractory is being considered.
The leaders of these places say they are ready to comply with the rule.
Protect residents
According to figures from the Minister of Health, 60% of the general population and vaccinated, but only 50% of caregivers who work in nursing homes.
For Olivier Véran, this is not acceptable.
"By the end of the summer, if it didn't get better, yes, we'd be wondering."
LIVE
- Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Thursday, June 17
For the minister, the logic is simple, "we will not take the risk of exposing frail elderly people in an establishment due to the fact that caregivers have refused to be vaccinated. It is important. They cannot be less vaccinated than the general population, "he said.
If the measure has not been taboo for a few months, no decision has yet been taken in this direction.
"We are now completely in favor of compulsory vaccination"
However, the message has been well received from the nursing homes.
Florence Arnaiz-Maumé, president of Synerpa, the national union of establishments and private residences, says she is "completely ready to implement the decision if it is confirmed".
As she recalls, "we would have to be able to reach an 80% vaccination rate among caregivers to be sure of having collective immunity in nursing homes, so we are now completely in favor of compulsory vaccination".
>> Find Europe evening in replay and podcast here
This strategy is also supported by Emmanuel Macron. This Thursday evening, the president called for the responsibility of the personnel concerned, because it is also a question of preventing the dissemination of possible variants at the start of the school year.