D-1 before zero tolerance. From this Wednesday, September 15, caregivers will have to set an example: be vaccinated with at least one dose against Covid-19. For a minority of staff in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, this is the last straw. Already struggling for more than a year and a half in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, they have decided to hang up or to suffer (or even to circumvent) the penalties provided for – namely a suspension, without remuneration.
A scenario for which Laurence, caregiver for thirty years, has prepared: “This September 15, I will wear my white coat for the last time” she says. Elisabeth, a nurse for twenty-two years, does not intend to be vaccinated either. But “for the moment my clinic, which is severely understaffed, has guaranteed us that no action will be taken against unvaccinated staff,” she testifies. “On the other hand, if the ARS gets involved, puts pressure on my management and I am suspended, I will look for another job and I will contact a lawyer to defend my rights,” warns the nurse. Flora, the only nurse in an Ehpad, insists on the consequences of her suspension in her establishment: “in April, we received emails from the Council of the Order, asking us to go to work, because of the lack of personnel”.
The drop of water that broke the camel’s back
After the valuation of caregivers during the first wave and certain other professions “on the front line”, some of our Internet users express their anger at being singled out by the government today. Sophie, a home help for ten years, will demonstrate.
Jean, who works in a medico-social institute in the maintenance department, is disappointed with his management, which obliges the employees to be vaccinated while she herself is not obliged to do so “supposedly because they do not” have no contact with residents ”.
Emmanuelle, a nursing home nurse, has also decided with her companion to take “parental leave and live on her savings”.
Laëtitia is a 40-year-old medical secretary. With his spouse – him vaccinated – they are eligible for artificial inseminations. The prospect of getting vaccinated in this delicate AMP process is distressing. “I refused for fear of losing the chance that gave us to try to have a child.” She is also not closed to the idea of being vaccinated in the second trimester if she is lucky enough to be pregnant.
“It’s the end of a dream”
Physiotherapist for more than fifteen years, Philippe will close his practice for two or three weeks to think about his future. “I am ready to work several months in other ways, odd jobs, interim, etc., there is work elsewhere but what will be the consequences? He asks himself. “What am I going to do next?” “, Asks Jade, dental surgeon, with a full agenda until January. “Healing is a passion for me. If I have to change the country, I will change, ”she argues.
Sophie, speech therapist and neuropsychologist in Cannes, fears the “psychological and financial precariousness” of her non-vaccination as well as being forced to “abandon my patients to precarious developmental and psychological care”. Mélanie, social worker in an establishment or social or medico-social service, will try to find the same job in a structure that does not require vaccination or “do a professional retraining project in naturopathy”. Caroline, accounting secretary and biller in two private clinics for eleven years, fell from above when she learned that she was considered to be staff subject to compulsory vaccination. She ended up resigning after her superiors refused to grant her unpaid leave. “Yet I was essential during previous confinements where I worked all the time,” she says, disgusted.
It is a real blow for Stéphanie who reconverted in June 2020 as a hospital services agent and who was to return to the nursing assistant school next April. “It’s the end of a dream. On September 15, I would be on unjustified absence until September 30, the end date of my contract, ”she wrote to us.
They took the plunge
Alison went for her first dose “reluctantly” on September 10th. “I am forced and forced to be vaccinated to keep my job, I studied so much and gave myself the means to have my diploma to lose it for something so stupid as this vaccine”, she believes. . Alexis has also just received his first dose, but in solidarity with his colleagues in the medical service of Health Insurance and other professions subject to compulsory vaccination, he will continue to demonstrate.
After months of doubt and hesitation, Amélie was finally vaccinated on the advice of her attending physician and a neurologist she trusts. “If alone, Macron had advised me, I would certainly have refused,” she slips.