A total of 3,000 French health workers have been suspended from work and several dozen have resigned as enforcement begins of compulsory vaccination for healthcare staff in France.

Wednesday marked the deadline for health and emergency workers to present to their employer proof of vaccination against COVID and on Thursday health minister Olivier Véran told RTL that 3,000 suspensions have been reported in hospitals, nursing homes and medical centres of unvaccinated workers.

Several dozen more have resigned, he added.

The decree making vaccination compulsory covers around 2.7 million people and September 15th marked the deadline to have had at least the first dose of the vaccine.

Unvaccinated health staff cannot work and will not be paid, although the French Constitutional Court has ruled that they cannot be fired.