It was August 31, 2021 when the Greek government warned that from September 1 all health workers in public hospitals would be suspended from work if they were not vaccinated against the coronavirus during the pandemic period. 

For months, there have been protests by nearly 7,000 doctors, nurses and administrative workers in these hospitals who refused to be vaccinated. 

Although the health sector faced severe staff shortages in the various recent waves of the pandemic and Greece was one of the countries with the highest death toll, over 34,500, the government remained stoic about its decision. 

But from the second day of the new year 2023, an electoral year for the country that is only a few months away from the parliamentary elections, a decision of the Council of State, the highest administrative court, restores to work almost 2000 unvaccinated public health care workers , 16 months after their suspension, even the full salary for the last 8 months will be paid. 

It is about over 170 doctors, 800 nurses and the rest of the administration employees, while more than 5,000 other unvaccinated people have been working these days, presenting the medical certificates proving that they had passed the coronavirus. 

The Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, although he is still against the return of unvaccinated health workers to hospitals, has declared that he will respect the decision. 

Meanwhile, the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health has drawn up a safe protocol for their return to work by wearing masks, but also performing two tests a week.