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Health workers to be fired if remain unvaccinated, says minister as Greece lifts some restrictions

Unvaccinated health workers must get vaccination against Covid-19 by March 31 or they will be fired from Greece’s national health system (ESY), Health Minister Thanos Plevris said on Monday.

In an interview with Skai TV, he reiterated that they will remain suspended until that date.

He added that “by that time there will be an overall measure on whether there must be obligatory vaccination for healthcare staff every year after the pandemic

The Minister added all citizens over 18 years old will need to be vaccinated also with the booster shot to be considered as fully vaccinated. With a week delay due to the snow weather last week, the measure will go into force from February 7, 2022.

According to medical news website healthreport.gr, the Health Ministry is considering to allow health workers with two vaccination doses and no booster shot to continue working, even though with Rapid test.

Hospital Workers Union POEDIN estimates that some 10,000 health workers have not received the booster shot and that their suspension wou;d empty the hospitals.

According to POEDIN, a total of 4,727 health workers have been suspended since September 2021 as they have refused to get administered vaccination against COVId-19.

It should be recalled that Greece has relaxed some restrictions in restaurants and entertainment venues including music and opening hours from Monday, Jan 31, 2022.
Regarding the measures relaxation, Minister Plevris said that the overall view among EU ministers was that there should be a move in this direction, namely toward enforcing only those measures that were absolutely necessary.
PS How the hospitals operate with some 5,000 fewer personnel is another chapter in the painful story of the Greek health care system.

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9 comments

  1. And the mandatory for 60+
    How is that status?
    According to AVG European law it is not allowed to distribute medical information without permission from the owner. Also for governments.
    This government give this information to there TAX office. By sending the penalty for not been vaccinated.
    This is prohibited by law.
    The government has no voice in fire people which are not working in the government. I think.

  2. Health Minister Thanos Plevris irrational, and destructive behavior has done immeasurable damage to Greeks. Kick him out and prosecute him.

  3. This is a joke right?! If ICUs are saturated with COVID cases what’s going to happen when they fire the medical workers that are not vaccinated? God help us all!

  4. elsewhere the overwhelming pressure of truth is bringing down the medical dictatorship.. here in greece of course we just love totalitarian rule, so we’re doubling down.

  5. Unvaccinated medical staff is a problem. They also run risks themselves.
    But who is going to look after patients then? What could be done? Often you see a flow of medical staff from poorer to richer countries but I don’t expect that Greece can offer many benefits to possible foreign medical staff. Perhaps there are refugees in Greece with the proper skills who are fully vaccinated who can fulfill some of the care. Language could be a problem.

    Expect more people having untimely deaths due to the lack of access to treatment.

    • Why would unvaccinated healthcare workers be a problem, if the injection does neither stop infection nor transmission? The real problem are fear and a society well aware of their devastating lifestyle, but unwilling to change…

    • My step-daughter is a nurse in Greece and she has submitted herself to all the whims of this government, taking the shot and further “boosters” to be able to keep her job. Unfortunately for her, she is sick with Covid and will not be able to go to work and take care of the patients at the Hospital. That’s the reality!

  6. As for me, this is unacceptable measure! At least, because it’s not the best time for our country and all our citizens now. Even if we talk about the economy of the country and the well-being of the population of Greece. A lot of people have some difficulties with their employment because of pandemics and they are expressing financial difficulties at the moment. And what to say about the state of our health care system! It’s under a lot of stress right now. Doctors are working to their limit! They save our lives and health 24/7. Both those who are vaccinated and who are not vaccinated! We are grateful to each of them! Just imagine what awaits us if we reduce the number of health workers at such a difficult moment. What a nightmare awaits us and the remaining health workers then! It’s just a spit in the face of the people, who have saved so many lives, and how many lives still they have to save…Dear doctors, hold on! Our respect and gratitude to you in any case!