Olivier Veran, France’s health minister, has announced the suspension of about 3000 health workers who have not received the COVID-19 vaccines. 

Mr Veran announced the suspension on Thursday after France imposed mandatory vaccinations for its healthcare workers. 

“Yesterday, some 3,000 suspensions were served on staff in health and social care facilities who had not yet entered into a vaccination course,” Mr Veran told RTL radio on Thursday morning. “Most of the suspensions are only temporary … many of them have decided to get vaccinated as they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality.”

Over 90 per cent of French health care workers are vaccinated, Government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told AFP, and while surveys reveal public support for the vaccine mandate, about 300,000 health workers are unvaccinated.

In July, French President Emmanuel Macron had imposed mandatory vaccinations to increase vaccine acceptance and prevent a fresh wave of infections. The deadline for the vaccinations was set for September 15. 

France is not the first country to enforce mandatory vaccinations. 

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for federal employees and contractors as well as businesses with over 100 employees. 

In late May, Italy enforced mandatory vaccinations for health workers.

It plans to expand the measure to all its citizens and become the first in Europe to make the vaccination mandatory for all, pending EU health authorities’ full approval.