Whatever the successes of Monaco’s own programme of testing and vaccination, if neighbouring Nice Côte d´Azur continues to register a high number of new coronavirus cases, this will have a knock-on effect in the Principality and put a brake on the road to recovery and an eventual emergence from the pandemic.

However, on Thursday France’s Minister of Health Olivier Véran promised an extra 12,000 doses of vaccine to the Nice area in a bid to speed up inoculation of the over-50s with underlying health problems.

In a nod to concerns over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 4,000 Pfizer doses will be offered to the over-75s while 12,000 AstraZeneca does will be offered to over-50s, with or without co-morbitities.

Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi welcomed the offer, saying: “”Such a level of vaccination, it will be a first in France.”

He added: “Our goal is for everyone over 75 to be vaccinated at the end of the month.” He will himself have a jab on Friday.

FILE PHOTO: Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi