VACCINE PASS. Due to the improvement in the epidemic indicators of Covid-19, the vaccination pass could be lifted earlier than its theoretical end date of July 31. What date has the government given? What do the French think?
[Mis à jour le 18 février 2022 à 15h03] Is the end of the vaccination pass coming soon? Ihe Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced in an interview with France Bleu Isère on February 11 that the vaccination pass could be lifted “in the spring”, while its validity framed by law ends July 31. The reason ? the decrease in contamination of the Omicron variant in France. “If the good figures continue, considering lifting the vaccination pass in the spring seems possible to me”, for his part indicated the president of the Scientific Council Jean-François Delfraissy, in an interview with the Parisian. “We are finishing Omicron,” he added.
By then, the vaccine pass could already be reduced in the month of “March”, according to the words of the Minister of Health on February 16 on France Info, but in any case, the health system would be kept in places “at high risk of contamination” such as discos. What do the French think of a possible early lifting of the vaccination pass?
According to a Ifop poll carried out for the JDD, 71% of French people questioned are in favor of an early lifting of the vaccination pass, including 41% “completely” in favor. Among the age groups surveyed, 75% of those under 35 are in favour, against 71% of 35-65 year olds and 67% of 65 year olds and over, logically more vulnerable to Covid-19. Among the professions questioned, 78% of craftsmen and traders, who suffer more from the system because of their activities, are in favor of it (including 60% “completely” in favor), 73% of business leaders too. Finally, supporters of Eric Zemmour (87%) and supporters of La France Insoumise (81%) are the voters most in favor of this early end to the vaccine pass, while supporters of La République En Marche are at 65%. favorable.
What is the end date of the vaccination pass?
Given the improvement in the health situation, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced on France Bleu Isère on Friday February 11 that the vaccination pass could be lifted in the spring, i.e. before its end date regulated by law (31 July 2022): “We will lighten the vaccination pass when the conditions are met, that is to say that we will no longer need to deprogram care for the French for lack of space in intensive care because there would be too of patients with Covid-19 and not vaccinated in the sheave and when the incidence rate, the circulation of the virus allows it, with the guarantee that there is not a new virus”.
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal, questioned at a press conference after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday February 9, had already mentioned this possible end to the vaccination pass in the spring, bouncing on the words of Professor Alain Fischer, the ” Mr. government vaccine”, earlier in the day: the one who coordinates the state’s vaccination strategy mentioned the deadline of “end of March, beginning of April” before the Senate’s Social Affairs Committee. But he nevertheless conditioned the end of the vaccination pass on several conditions: “The incidence rate must be reduced, at least 10 or 20 times less than today (well under 2,500)”, adding that ” the current hospital overload has disappeared” and “that non-covid patients can be treated without delay”. Another necessary condition to lift the vaccination pass: you need a “high booster vaccination coverage”.
In the meantime, from February 28, the mask will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass, i.e. in all establishments open to the public, with the exception of transport, according to a Press release of February 11 written by the Ministry of Health.
In which places subject to the vaccination pass will the mask no longer be compulsory?
From February 28, 2022, the mask will no longer be compulsory in the interior spaces below subject to the vaccination pass, with the exception of transport (TGV, Intercités, night trains):
- Cinemas
- Museums and monuments
- Theaters and other performance halls
- Concert halls and festivals
- Party rooms
- Libraries
- discos
- Trade shows, fairs and seminars
- Restaurants, bars and cafes
- Campsites, hotels and holiday centers
- Casinos and other gaming halls
- Sports establishments (sports hall, gymnasium, ice rink, horse riding stables, etc.)
- Theme parks
- Boat cruises of more than 50 passengers
Long-term transport subject to the vaccination pass, i.e. TGV, Intercités, night trains, long-distance coaches and domestic flights, are still subject to the wearing of a mask, just like other public transport not subject to the pass.
What changes to the vaccination pass since February 15?
Since February 15, 2022, the French have had to take their booster dose from the moment they have received their last injection for more than 4 months, compared to 7 months so far, on pain of losing their vaccination pass. The measure applies to people aged 18 and over, but there are exceptions to all of this:
French people who have been infected with the Covid virus can keep their vaccination pass without a booster dose. To sum up, if you have injected a single dose of vaccine, but you have been contaminated twice with Covid-19, the vaccination schedule is complete, if you have injected two doses vaccine and you have been infected once with Covid-19, the vaccination schedule is complete. An infection is now equivalent to an injection, except in this very specific case: having been contaminated three times by Covid-19 does not make it possible to have a complete vaccination schedule.
Also since February 15, the validity period of the certificate of recovery after Covid-19 infection has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months. The recovery certificate is “one of the proofs that allows you to have a valid vaccination pass”, had indicated the ministry. This document is only issued to French people infected with Covid-19 more than 11 days ago and therefore less than 4 months (whereas before February 15, less than 6 months).
To obtain the vaccination pass, two conditions: present a complete vaccination schedule (with a booster dose within 4 months from the age of 18, unless you have been contaminated by Covid-19) or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19. 19 dating back at least 11 days and less than 4 months. Negative PCR or antigen tests are no longer valid evidence, unlike the sanitary pass.