After two weeks of heated debate in the National Assembly and the Senate between the majority and the opposition, the vaccination pass, succeeding the health pass for people at least 16 years old, will come into force from Monday, January 24. “subject to the decision of the Constitutional Council”, announced, Thursday, January 20, Jean Castex during a press conference. The application of the vaccination pass will therefore take effect nine days later than initially planned by the government.
This pass will be used to access leisure activities, restaurants and drinking establishments, fairs, seminars and trade shows and interregional public transport. Its introduction, which should make it possible to “lift most of the restrictions taken” according to Mr. Castex, remains suspended on a decision, Friday, of the Constitutional Council, seized by deputies and senators of the opposition.
Asked about the possibility of lifting the application of the vaccination pass or limiting its deployment in time, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, for his part, specified that the government ” to release[a] coercive measures (…) since the hospital pressure [sera] low enough”. “What we want is for there to be no more deprogrammed care”, underlined the Minister of Health, who believes that the vaccination pass will be applied “as long as necessary” most “no more than necessary”.
A helping hand to the unvaccinated
The Prime Minister also took a step towards unvaccinated people. Jean Castex announced that the vaccine pass would be accessible and activated for people vaccinated from their first dose of vaccine by February 15 under two conditions: take their second dose well the following month and justify a negative test of less than twenty-four hours to access the main places open to the public where the pass applies.
The government will open from Monday and without obligation the reminder of vaccine against Covid-19 to all 12-17 years, announced the Prime Minister. “For 12-17 year olds, the opening of the recall has been decided for those who are suffering from chronic pathologies, as many countries around us have done, I am announcing that we are going to extend this possibility of a recall vaccination for all but without obligation, starting next Monday”, he said.
The Prime Minister also wishes to encourage the vaccination of 12-year-old children, also believing that it is necessary “to advance the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11”, «by authorizing more places and professionals to perform this injection».