France Fears Medical Staff Shortages as 300,000 Unvaccinated by Sept. 15 Deadline

A medical worker holds a placard reading: "No at closing of the Beaujon Hospital," during a protest gathering outside the Health Ministry, in Paris on Sept. 14, 2021. Francois Mori/AP Photo

French people working in the medical sector are required to be vaccinated against the CCP virus or risk a suspension from their jobs without pay under President Emmanuel Macron’s new vaccine mandate that went into effect on Sept. 15.

Two months ago, Macron ordered hospital staff, ambulance technicians, nursing home workers, doctors, fire brigade members, and people caring for the elderly or infirm in their homes—some 2.6 million employees in total, to get a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15, though hundreds of thousands haven’t yet complied with the new rule.