Greece will reinstate thousands of health workers who have refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, the health minister said, following a court ruling.
Like many other European countries, Greece introduced rules during the worst pandemic requiring staff in hospitals, doctors’ offices and nursing homes to be fully vaccinated.
The measure implemented a year ago led to the exclusion of some 6,500 unvaccinated employees and was strongly opposed by the main union of hospital workers.
Greece’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, called for the measure to be repealed last week, following a complaint filed by the union.
“The ruling will be implemented, though I tell you I think it is a dangerous decision for public health,” Health Minister Thanos Plevris told Mega TV, reports RTE.
Plevris said the measure will likely be repealed starting January 1, if not sooner.
The Kathimerini newspaper reported last month that more than 2,000 health workers were still unvaccinated, including some 170 doctors.
More than 5.3 million covid infections have been recorded in Greece since the start of the pandemic, according to the Health Ministry, with more than 34,000 deaths attributed to the virus.
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