Vaccination debates and Covid-19 restrictions have sown divisions both on and off the presidential campaign trail in France, which ranks among the most vaccine-sceptic nations in the world. FRANCE 24 takes a look at what the candidates have said regarding the measures to contain Covid-19.
After a halting start, vaccine-sceptic France’s Covid-19 inoculation campaign caught up and even surpassed those of many of its neighbours, at least in part due to the nudge provided by the introduction in July of the country’s health pass, which was required for access to restaurants, some transport and cultural venues. The health pass, which was also available to people who could show a recent negative Covid-19 test, evolved into a vaccine pass on January 24 that required actual proof of vaccination and/or infection.
Some 80 percent of the French population is at least partially vaccinated – or 85 percent of those eligible – although those lining up for their first doses have slowed to fewer than 10,000 people a day. About 2,000 of those daily first-time doses are going to children from ages 5 to 11, nearly two months into a paediatric vaccination campaign that can only be described as a flop. With little more than 3 percent of primary-age schoolchildren vaccinated, according health authority Santé Publique France, France is well out of step with its far more enthusiastic EU neighbours.
Starting on Tuesday, the vaccine passes of the 4 million French adults who have not received a booster four months after their second dose became invalid, barring proof of infection: In France, two doses and one infection – or one dose and two infections – are considered equal to three doses of vaccine.
Nearly as soon as the vaccine pass entered into force in January, the government began debating when it would no longer be needed. Health Minister Olivier Véran has said the requirement could be…
Source : france24
