France mandates vaccines for health workers and for visits to shops, bars and cinemas

All health care workers in France must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by September or risk not being paid, the government has announced.

Beginning next month you’ll need a vaccination pass to visit bars, shops and movie theaters or to take long-distance trains.

The requirement applies to doctors, nurses, office staff and volunteers.

President Emmanuel Macron has also said that from next month, vaccine health passes will need to be shown to access places like shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas and long-distance train journeys in France.

The passes show the holder has been jabbed and the dates and type of vaccine.

“I am aware of what I am asking of you, and I know that you are ready for this commitment, this is part, in a way, of your sense of duty,” the president said in a televised address on Monday.

The mandatory vaccinations will apply to anyone who comes into contact with vulnerable people, and therefore applies to everyone who works in hospitals, clinics and care homes, regardless of their role.

They must be vaccinated by 15 September or risk not being paid, Health Minister Olivier Véran told France’s LCI television.

Health passes are already used to enter some venues, such as nightclubs which reopened for the first time at the weekend. However they will be expanded to include more places including festivals, theatres and hospitals from 21 July and will apply to those aged over 12 years old.

To encourage people to get jabbed, PCR covid tests that are currently free will have to be paid for, unless accompanied with a doctor’s prescription.

After the president’s announcement, Doctolib, the website people use to book their jabs, crashed as so many people tried secure appointments.

Cases are rising in France, with the Delta variant causing a surge in hospital admissions.

On Friday, a panel of scientists who advise the French government on health matters warned of a fourth wave in the coming months, and said as many as 95% of people may need to be vaccinated to control the spread.

However, only a little over half of the population has received a first dose and less than 40% have had two shots.
____________________

Credit: BBC