OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 pandemia in Greece provoked the development of national interventions to protect public health. One of the measures to increase vaccination rate was the compulsory vaccination of the staff of the healthcare sector against COVID-19. No vaccination led to work suspension of those who served in public and municipal health structures (Law 4820/2021) imposed on September 2021. Around 2.000 workers were suspended thoughout Greece. The objective was the assessment of the socio-economic consequences from the work suspension of the personnel who denied getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted nationwide, from February to March, 2022 to personnel who was suspended from work. A Socio-economic questionnaire was prepared including the Personal Financial Difficulty Index (IPED), the Food Insecurity Scale (F.I.E.S.), the Short Patient Health Questionnaire (P.H.Q.2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (G.A.D.2) and EQ-5D.

RESULTS: 177 health professionals participated in the survey. 80.8% were women, 40.7% nurses, 27.7% paramedical staff and 81.9% served in a hospital. At the period of suspension September 2021 -the decision is still active- the participants declared a monthly individual salary of 0€, vs. 501€-1500€ the monthly salary at the period of active working conditions, their monthly family income was 501€-1000€ vs 501€-2000€. The I.P.E.D. index showed that 55.9% of the participants faced serious financial problems and F.I.E.S. scale recorded mild food insecurity (p=0.001). Finally, (P.H.Q.2) and (G.A.D.2), showed that 57.6% felt depressed and 52.5% were anxious (p<0.005). The measures taken, had no impact on the number of infections, on the contrary they created an extra burden to the remaining personnel of public hospitals since they had to take care greater number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The work suspension caused important socio-economic consequences and inequalities. The suspension measure is still active, without any sign or reconsideration on behalf of the government.