A COVID-19 ‘vaccine hesitancy’ in France

By admin3485, 30 November 2020

“I am in favour of compulsory vaccination if necessary,”  said Gérard Larcher,  the President of the Senate.

“When you get vaccinated, it’s not just for yourself, it’s a form of solidarity and protection for the whole of society.”

Promising trial results have led to hopes that a Covid-19 vaccine is soon to be on the way. But will the vaccine prove effective if many refuse to take it? The question is worrying authorities in France where rates of are among the highest in the world.

Meanwhile, on the streets of the capital Paris on Thursday, opinion remained divided.

“Maybe there are side effects that we don’t know yet, like the normal flu vaccine,” said one woman, who declined to give her name. “We are still looking for a vaccine at all costs quickly, but doesn’t mean it will be really effective. We don’t know anything about it for the moment, so I won’t take the risk, that’s for sure.”

“If they don’t want to do it, they don’t want to do it,” said another woman .