- Starting September 1, health workers will be vaccinated compulsorily.
- According to the National Federation of Public Workers’ Unions, as of Wednesday, about 10,000 health workers had not been vaccinated.
- Legislation on mandatory vaccination was voted through in July.
A union said that about 10,000 health workers in Greece are facing suspension because the deadline for Covid-19 vaccination expired on Wednesday.
From September 1st, health workers must be vaccinated, and those who do not comply will be prohibited from working.
On Wednesday morning, protests broke out in front of hospitals across the country against mandatory vaccination and emphasized the consequences of mass dismissals for the country’s health services.
According to estimates by the National Federation of Public Hospital Staff, as of Wednesday, about 10,000 health workers (10% of the workforce) had not been stabbed.
According to the financial newspaper Naftemporiki, more specifically, the ambulance service will have to reduce 1,245 personnel.
“We are pushing health workers to vaccinate, but we are against compulsory vaccination, which will bring about democracy problems,” Dimitris Koourouvalakis, a member of the executive committee of the federation, told AFP.
Read also | Australia’s goal is to “coexist with the virus” not to eliminate it
The federation called for a strike on Thursday morning and protests in Athens and Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece.
Health Minister Athanassios Plevris said on Wednesday that the mandatory vaccination legislation voted in July “will be implemented.”
The government is now trying to find measures to fill the gaps, such as suspending vacations for vaccinated health workers to ensure full service.
It also plans to advance the reorganization of medical staff in hospitals, the merger of clinics, the replacement of suspended personnel with auxiliary staff, and the establishment of partnerships with the private sector.
According to the government, more than 90% of patients currently hospitalized with Covid-19 have not been vaccinated.
Of the 10.7 million population, more than 5.7 million were completely stabbed.
We want to hear your opinion on the news. Subscribe to news 24 Be part of the dialogue in the comments section of this article.
