France will begin enforcing new restrictions in the battle against Covid-19 on Wednesday, meaning that persons aged 65 and over will lose the validity of their health pass unless they have had a third booster shot.
The health permit, which was implemented in the summer, makes complete immunization against Covid-19, as well as a recent recovery or negative test, required for attending any restaurant or café, intercity rail travel, and cultural facilities like as movies or museums.
The health pass, championed by President Emmanuel Macron as he seeks re-election in 2022, is largely seen as a success, despite initial opposition, in motivating those who were reticent to be vaccinated.
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According to the government, 400,000 persons aged 65 and above who are eligible for the booster injection have yet to receive it, accounting for 12% of those aged 80 and up and 10% of those aged 65 to 79.
People in the 65 plus age group who have failed to take up the booster shot will see the QR code in their health pass generated by a mobile phone app automatically dis-activated.
The rule, which further tightens one of the tightest health pass systems in Europe, will from January 15 be expanded across all age groups. The only option for people without a booster–other than to get one–will be to have a negative test that is a maximum of 24 hours old.
France has already carried out almost 16 million booster shots and is confident of reaching its target of 20 million before Christmas.
The booster is now seen as a key weapon in defeating the Omicron variant, which experts believe spreads faster than previous COVID variants and could become dominant in Europe in the next few weeks.
France reported on Tuesday over 63,400 positive Covid tests, the highest figure since April, while almost 2,800 people are in intensive care with the illness.
Over 76 percent of people have been double vaccinated in France and children deemed at risk can be jabbed from Wednesday, with vaccinations soon also expected to be fully opened to the very young.