Will businesses contribute to the national effort?
The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 will begin in France from the last week of December, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Wednesday.
Residents of nursing homes and staff at risk and then the elderly will be the first to be vaccinated.
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Once the most vulnerable are immunized, other citizens can in turn be administered the vaccine if they wish.
And already, some large groups are starting to study the possibility of offering injections to their employees from the end of spring 2021.
Renault is one of them.
The automaker recently launched a think tank on the subject, made up of doctors and members of human resources.
“
Discussions are not very advanced at this stage.
This watch committee will be operational in January.
We are moving step by step with the Covid
”, explains a Renault spokesperson.
EDF is also looking into the issue.
“
Within our Covid crisis unit in place since January to supervise all issues related to the health crisis, the subject of vaccination is now open.
But at a very early stage
, ”says the group.
On a voluntary basis
Will we leave the choice to employees?
It is out of the question to impose vaccination, assure the various departments.
As the Prime Minister said, everything will be done on a voluntary basis.
Renault employees, for example, already have the possibility and the freedom to be vaccinated against the flu or to be screened for skin cancer.
Labor Minister Élisabeth Borne has reminded many times that vaccination against Covid-19 would not be compulsory and that no company could impose it, despite the context of the pandemic.
Health protocols "
very effective and well respected
" are already making it possible to fight against the spread of the virus, the Minister repeated on Wednesday.
And in general, in addition to the eleven compulsory vaccines from childhood, only citizens working in so-called “
high risk of infection
”
sectors of activity
are forced to be vaccinated against several diseases.
Protocol, organization and logistics
The real recovery of the economy should only take place in the second half of 2021, with the expected full effect of vaccines.
Some companies believe that vaccination within them would help the executive to eradicate the virus while regaining a maximum level of activity, employees can thus return to the site "
safely
".
"
Vaccination in business involves many organizational, logistical and administrative
" says the
Figaro
Florence Herry, nurse training and co-founder of Libheros, a platform dedicated to the organization of home care that brings together 16,000 nurses.
This year, Libheros has supported groups like Renault, Saint-Gobain or Total, and SMEs, both on the implementation of Covid-19 screening tests and on the flu vaccination campaign launched last September.
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For the Covid vaccine, companies will have to set up a dedicated room, with adequate ventilation, provide the necessary equipment and supervise waste management.
In addition to these considerations, they will have to plan the steps of purchase, transport and storage according to the type of vaccine administered.
For example, the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna must be stored at - 70 ° C and - 20 ° C respectively.
"
To prevent companies from equipping themselves with large fridges, nurses who would move could provide themselves with small refrigerated boxes containing vaccines,
" explains Florence Herry, who is currently studying the issue with several French companies of all sizes.
Pending recommendations from health authorities and the executive
Within companies, a protocol to guarantee the traceability and monitoring of batches of medication administered must be signed by the occupational physician.
“
A medical interview with each employee will also be required before any administration.
And consent sheets for employees and nurses who will perform the act will be required,
”says Florence Herry.
Currently, only governments can order vaccines, and companies are uncertain to what extent they will be allowed to procure doses in the coming months.
The final decisions will be taken at the level of the Ministries of Labor and Health and of the management committees, according to the recommendations of the High Authority for Health.