Will Martinique be an exception on the compulsory vaccination of caregivers?
Faced with the demonstrations in recent weeks, the government had mandated a mediation at the Martinique University Hospital where the inter-union is opposed to the health pass and the vaccination obligation of caregivers.
In a letter addressed to the Ministries of Health and Overseas Territories, the national mediator made six recommendations in order to "maintain the capacity to take care of patients" at the Martinique University Hospital, who "fear a degradation of care with the division ”which reigns between the hospital teams.
Among these recommendations, she proposes a postponement of the deadline concerning the vaccination obligation of caregivers.
Initially scheduled for October 24, after a first exemption, the first injection must be performed on December 6.
The second dose, which was to be mandatory on November 15 on the island, would be postponed to December 31.
Date foreseen for the moment of the exit from the state of emergency on the island.
In addition, during this period, the mediator recommends maintaining free PCR and antigen tests when they are already paid for in mainland France.
Finally, "for those who do not wish to be vaccinated, a support and accompaniment system for reclassification or professional retraining is to be expected", recommends this mission.
The island both "worried and fractured"
Arrived on November 1 in Fort-de-France to find a way out of the crisis, the national mediator Danielle Toupillier who met more than a hundred people during her stay noted that the population on the island is at the same time "worried and fractured" but also that it is "particularly tested by a 4th murderous wave".
According to the latest figures from the Regional Health Agency (ARS), 700 people have died from Covid-19 at the CHU of Fort-de-France since the start of the epidemic.
However, only 38.6% of those aged 12 and over have a complete vaccination schedule.
Still, this mediation is not necessarily validated by the inter-union.
“My mission is over, even if we never formally entered mediation as we hoped,” admitted mediator Danielle Toupillier.
Supported by the virologist Emmanuel Gordien, and the director of work at the prefecture Léandre Beauroy, the national mediator did not succeed in setting up mediation, in the face of the health intersyndicale which demanded the enlargement of the framework of its mission beyond the public service alone.
Anyway, the ball is now in the court of ministers Olivier Véran and Sébastien Lecornu.
The answer must come in the coming days.