Following President Macron’s TV address on Monday night stipulating that access to cafes, bars and restaurants will be limited to those who have had two covid shots, there was a stampede to vaccination centres on Tuesday.
The head of Doctorlib, the medical appointments platform, said that 926,000 people had booked their vaccinations overnight and up to midday on Tuesday. Health Minister Olivier Véran said that thousands of lives had been saved by the vaccine frenzy.
The need for a vaccination certificate will also apply to shopping centres, flights and long-distance train travel.
Macron’s move was intended to counter vaccine reticence among French people, particularly the young. He made his point strongly: “Vaccination is not immediately obligatory for everyone, but we’re going to extend the health pass to the maximum, in order to push a maximum of you to go and get vaccinated,” he said.
By the end of Tuesday more than 700,000 French residents had heeded his message in a record day for jabs.
PHOTO: Queuing for the queue at the Nice Convention Centre on Tuesday Ian Brodie
