in Greece, unvaccinated caregivers have returned to work – RT in French

Medical staff not vaccinated against Covid-19 returned to work on January 2 in Greece, 16 months after their suspension, the Hellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees announced in a press release.

Some 2,000 caregivers returned to work on January 2 in public hospitals and ambulance services in Greece, following a decision by the Council of State – the country’s highest administrative court – which forced the government to lift the measure. ‘prohibition.

The reintegration of these carers constitutes “a big breath for the system, but the problem of the lack of personnel remains”, underlined the Hellenic Federation of employees of public hospitals (POEDIN) in a press release.

Around 5,000 other caregivers, also unvaccinated, had already been able to resume or continue their professional activity due to a medical certificate attesting, for example, that they had already contracted the virus.

In Greece, vaccination became compulsory for staff in retirement homes in August 2021 and for caregivers two weeks later, giving rise to opposition demonstrations.

The movement against the obligation to vaccinate against Covid has experienced a certain boom in a country which suffered strict confinements in 2020 and 2021, to the point that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had assured at the end of 2021 that Greece was facing “a pandemic unvaccinated”.

Most Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in Greece, except in health facilities and public transport. But in the metros, buses or trams, most travelers have no mask, despite the obligation to wear one.