COVID-19: The Prince's Government has Submitted a Bill on Mandatory Vaccination for Certain Categories of People to the National Council

On Tuesday 3 August, as previously announced by the Minister of State, the Prince's Government submitted a Bill relating to mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for certain categories of people who work, volunteer or are pupils or students in Monegasque healthcare establishments (such as hospitals, clinics, etc.), in facilities that provide care for the elderly or people with disabilities or are in contact with the elderly or frail.

Vaccination against COVID-19 offers very effective and reliable protection against this disease, not only for those vaccinated but also for those with whom they come into contact.

Thus, the aim of this text is to protect these professionals and workers from the specific risks of contamination by the SARS-CoV-2 virus for themselves, and also for the vulnerable or frail people they look after.

Currently, at a time when we are experiencing a period of upsurge in the epidemic due to the Delta variant, 66% of the staff in healthcare establishments have received the first dose of a vaccine against COVID-19.  It is essential to further increase their vaccination coverage.

For the Prince's Government, this is an additional measure to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible while ensuring the greatest possible protection. The commitment to a frail or vulnerable person and the sense of service to others mean that those with whom these persons are involved must not be put at risk.  In this respect, carers, professionals working with vulnerable people and volunteers who undertake this type of role must be protected, in order to protect others.

In essence, this Bill provides for the mandatory vaccination of healthcare and non-healthcare workers (administrative staff, housekeeping staff, etc.) of an establishment, service or organisation whose purpose is to receive or accommodate vulnerable or frail people, even if they are not in direct contact with them.

In addition to these salaried or self-employed professionals, the vaccination requirement applies to volunteers, in order to ensure a consistent approach.

Persons who, within four weeks of the entry into force of the proposed provisions, do not provide proof of either their complete vaccination status or a certificate of recovery, will automatically be suspended from their duties at half pay for four weeks, and subsequently without pay.

As concerns persons who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical contraindication, no remuneration can be paid from the beginning of their legal suspension, and it will be the responsibility of the occupational doctor to declare this person definitively unfit to hold his or her job.

Following the convening of an extraordinary session of the National Council in the week of 13 to 17 September 2021 by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, this Bill will be considered by the Assembly on 14 September 2021.