A French hospital worker has declared a hunger strike in protest against the government’s vaccine mandate.
The French authorities have earlier decided that healthcare workers will be suspended if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Thierry Paysant strongly refused the decision and set up a protest tent outside the public hospital in Nice, southern France.
“We will go as far as we are able to go,” Paysant said outside the abbey, where he had also set up a camping stove.
He said he was not against the vaccination itself, but objects to people being forced to get the shot or risk losing their jobs. “It’s hard to swallow,” he said. “It was imposed in a violent way.”
Paysant was joined by another man who said he was also on hunger strike.
“I watch television and I see that people who are against or who express doubts are pushed to one side or dismissed as conspiracy theorists,” he said. “We hope there will be a public debate.”
Health Pass Protests
France has been witnessing angry protests in rejection of the new coronavirus health pass measure.
French authorities had earlier declared intention to relieve Covid-19 restrictions by August 9, 2021, in France.
The French health pass measures will mainly target those vaccinated or who have tested negative for Covid-19.
Targeted segment will have access to public venues, including long-distance transport, restaurants and cafés – even France’s famed outdoor terraces.
The protests which continued for the fourth weekend in a row, came just two days before the new rules come into force.
