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French residents without carte Vitale can get Covid vaccine

Details on the process have yet to be announced but the British Embassy in Paris says ‘watch and wait’

Everyone who is a resident in France will be able to receive a Covid-19 vaccination, even if they are not in the French health system and have no carte Vitale, the Ministry of Health and the British Embassy in Paris have confirmed. 

There are a number of foreigners living in France who have not entered into the French healthcare system due to having private health insurance. This includes early retirees and those who worked for international organisations such as the UN. 

The Ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé confirmed to The Connexion that, “all persons residing in France will be invited to be vaccinated according to the prioritisation of the public as organised as part of the vaccination campaign”.

The ministry has not yet provided further details on what documentation will be required for people going to vaccination centres without a carte Vitale

The British Embassy in France told The Connexion the same.

“We understand that all persons residing in France will be eligible for vaccinations...We are waiting for further official answers and details from the government”.

It recommends that people “watch and wait” and said it would publish more information on its social media channels as soon as there is an update. 

The French government has asked people with vaccination appointments to bring with them a valid ID and their carte Vitale or a Cpam attestation verifying their rights to French healthcare.

A number of Connexion readers have written in to say they have neither of those documents despite being fully resident in France.

The British Embassy said it was also awaiting details on whether non-residents who are in France on holiday or at their second home will be able to receive the vaccine. 

France’s public rollout of the vaccination started on January 18, beginning with those aged over 75 and those with serious health conditions. 

The next phase of the campaign, which will begin in February, will target those aged between 65 and 74 with additional health issues, followed by the remaining people aged over 65. 

So far, 823,567 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in France, equal to 1.23% of the population.

Read more:

Covid France: ‘I had to try for days to book vaccine’

Easy-look timeline of France’s Covid vaccine rollout

Covid: EU to discuss new variants as France debates lockdown

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