icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
15 Jan, 2021 12:08

France only has enough Covid jabs to vaccinate 2.4 million people by end of February, says Health Minister

France only has enough Covid jabs to vaccinate 2.4 million people by end of February, says Health Minister

The French Health Minister has given a further damning assessment of the nation’s inoculation program against Covid-19, noting that, at best, only four million people will be offered a vaccine before the end of February.

Speaking on Friday, Health Minister Olivier Veran told reporters that French vaccination figures are no longer being eclipsed by neighboring countries, adding that there are now 833 inoculation centers around the country. 

However, the health minister said current vaccine stocks would mean it is only possible to vaccinate “up to 2.4 million French people by the end of February,” a tiny proportion of what is being achieved elsewhere in the world. By comparison the UK is aiming to vaccinate 13.9 million people by mid-February. 

“We will be able to reach 4 million French people,” if the AstraZeneca vaccine is approved by then, Veran added. 

Also on rt.com Hungary has agreement for China’s Sinopharm vaccine, says minister, despite Brussels warning against non-EU procurement

The French government has come under immense scrutiny for the slow progress it has made in vaccinating people against Covid-19.

In early January it was announced that health services had only inoculated 516 people in the first week of the program. By comparison, Germany, who started vaccinations on the same day, gave the jab to more than 230,000 people in the first week. 

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned member states against making their own side deals with vaccine producers, as the EU led program itself came under fire by nations claiming they weren’t receiving enough vaccine supplies. 

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

Podcasts
0:00
26:13
0:00
24:57