The deadline for healthcare personnel in the French overseas territories to be fully vaccinated expired Friday (see related story). A group of Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital workers have been striking in opposition to the measure with support of local collectives, but so far to no avail.
According to them, about 100 employees refuse to take the vaccine and their jobs are now at risk. Préfet Serge Gouteyron had said he would try to persuade the hospital’s management and regional health agency ARS to hold off on sanctions, including suspensions, but the latter in turn is bound by national directives from Paris.
However, there are differing circumstances throughout the Republic of France. Certainly for St. Martin strict implementation could jeopardise an already burdened local healthcare system due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the demonstrators have proposed frequent testing as an alternative, nothing further was heard regarding this option. That is regrettable, because it could have offered at least a temporary solution.
The debate on face mask and vaccination mandates has been raging worldwide, whereby individual rights must sometimes be balanced with the perceived common good. That is far from easy and requires well-considered decisions not everyone will approve of.
Especially when it comes to their execution, the best approach would seem to be a pragmatic one, while still in keeping with the general interest.
