France Suspends About 3,000 Health Workers Without Pay Because They Haven’t Gotten One Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine

France has suspended about 3,000 health workers without pay because they didn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The health minister of France, Olivier Véran, said staff members were told in writing that they were required to receive at least one dose of the vaccine, The Guardian reports. “Several dozen” workers decided to resign instead of taking the vaccine; Véran says the country will be fine, as there are an estimated 2.7 million health workers in France. He mentioned that “continued healthcare is assured.”

The written instructions came from Emmanuel Macron back in July. Macron told health care employees that they had until September 15 to be vaccinated with just one shot. Right now, less than 47 percent of the French population that be can be fully vaccinated is. About 86.1 percent of the French population has at least one shot.

The suspensions are reportedly temporary, according to Véran. “A large number of these suspensions will be temporary,” he said. “They involved mostly personnel in support service, like those working in laundry or food preparation.” He said very few doctors and nurses remained unvaccinated. “Many of them have decided to get vaccinated now the obligation to do so has become a reality.”