No lockdown for the unvaccinated in France, says Macron
The president has stated that the countries that are introducing additional restrictions for non-fully vaccinated people are those which do not have a health pass in place
President Macron has said that it is not “necessary” to lock down unvaccinated people in France
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President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out imposing a lockdown on unvaccinated people in France.
This comes as a recent study showed that 60% of public polled in France supported the idea of a lockdown for unvaccinated people.
Read more: Covid France: 60% of public polled support lockdown for non-vaccinated
Speaking during an interview with La Voix du Nord, the president said: “The countries which are locking down unvaccinated people are those who have not put a health pass [system] in place.
“This measure is therefore not necessary in France.
“However, I think we must all become ambassadors for vaccination. Help me to convince those who are still reticent that they are enveloped in a solitary defiance.”
When asked if the offer of a booster vaccine dose should be extended to the whole of the French population over 12, President Macron said: “I’m waiting for advice from the health authorities. For people who are older or immunosuppressed, we know that the benefits outweigh the risk.
“If a third dose proves to be effective and necessary for other population groups, we will integrate it into the health pass system.”
So – if the authorities recommend it – not only will younger age groups be offered an additional dose, they will be required to receive it.
Booster doses will begin to become an obligatory part of health passes for over-65s and people who have been vaccinated with the single-dose Janssen vaccine from December 15
Read more:Will French health pass be invalid if I can’t have Covid booster yet?
Read more:Boosters, masks, fifth wave: Key points of Macron’s speech on Covid
After this date, over-65s who received their second dose more than six months and five weeks before will have to have had a booster to avoid their health pass being deactivated.
People who received the Janssen vaccine must have their booster within two months of their first dose in order to retain their health pass.
From December 1, people aged between 50 and 64 will also be able to receive a booster dose if they had their second more than six months before, and bookings for these appointments are already open.
In France, 20,366 people tested positive for Covid yesterday (November 18), and the positivity rate of tests taken reached 4.1%, up from 3.7% earlier this week, according to Santé publique.
There have been 3,003 hospital admissions and 682 intensive care admissions over the last seven days.
Around 75% of the population has now received all the necessary doses of a Covid vaccine.
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