France was vaccinated only more than 500 people six days before the launch of the coronavirus vaccine, which was criticized by all walks of life in China. The French Minister of Health promised on the 5th that the government will accelerate the vaccination process.
France, Germany and other European Union member states launched COVID-19 vaccination on December 27, 2020. France was the first to vaccinate elderly and caregivers in nursing homes, with only 516 people vaccinated as of January 1 this year, while neighboring Germany has vaccinated more than 200,000 people.
Regarding the slow vaccination, some opposition parliamentarians and local officials in France recently criticized the government. French President Macron convened Prime Minister Jean Castel and Health Minister Olivier Veran and other senior officials on the evening of the 4th to discuss how to speed up.
Wei Lang promised on the 5th that the government will “expand, accelerate and simplify the vaccination strategy” so that the vaccination progress will “catch up with neighboring countries in the next few days” and achieve a significant increase in the number of vaccinations by the 7th, and 300 vaccination centers will operate nationwide from next week.
Anod Fontane, an epidemiologist and French government adviser, said in an interview with France News Radio on the 5th that the speed of vaccination in France is “too slow and must be accelerated” and “the deadline is to reach 5 to 10 million people by the end of March”.
According to the previously announced plan of the government, France should achieve vaccination of 1 million people in nursing homes at the end of January, 14 million people, including the elderly, the chronically ill and medical staff, and start vaccinated for a wider population in the spring.
Media outlets such as Reuters said that cumbersome vaccination procedures were a major reason for the slow vaccination in France.
In addition, AFP reported that many French people are skeptical of the coronavirus vaccine, which makes it more difficult for the government to promote vaccination. A poll last week showed that only 40% of French people are willing to get the coronavirus vaccine.
