France orders over-65s to get booster jabs

FRANCE’S over-65s and those deemed high risk will require a booster jab to take trains or go to restaurants from next month, Emmanuel Macron announced last night.

It will make France the first country in the EU to declare the third jab mandatory. It is expected that the rules will apply to tourists and expats.

In a televised address, the French president said: “Faced with the resurgence of the epidemic, the solution is an extra dose. If you have been vaccinated for more than six months, I ask you to book an appointment.”

Starting from Dec 15, the over-65s and “the most fragile” will only be recognised as fully vaccinated on France’s Covid health pass if they have had a booster, Mr Macron said.

He also extended the booster shot to over-50s, saying they could start getting the third jab in December. He will provide more details “in the coming days”.

Required for bars, cafés, cultural venues and long-distance trains and planes, France’s health pass provides proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid, has recently had a negative coronavirus test or has recently recovered from the virus.

Mr Macron said it was thanks to the pass that “we have managed to master this epidemic”. Initially among the world’s most vaccine-sceptic nations, France has largely caught up with the UK and 51 million people have now been double jabbed, said Mr Macron.

The president urged those not yet protected to become so, saying: “To those not yet vaccinated: Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated to protect yourselves. Get vaccinated to live normally.”

While France’s infection rates are still far lower than in the UK, like the rest of Europe it is now facing a fifth wave.

The country registered almost 12,500 new confirmed cases yesterday, the highest level since Sept 8.

Only 3.4million out of the 7.7million French residents eligible for a booster vaccine have received the jab.