PARIS — France hopes that a planned new vaccine pass that will be required to enter public places will persuade more people to get inoculated against COVID-19 as the country faces a rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the health minister said on Saturday. Under current regulations, a recent negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination suffices. Veran said the government would ask MPs to also consider making the vaccine pass a requirement on trains and planes, and to make it mandatory to show a proof of identity along with the pass. Far-right Rassemblement National party leader Marine Le Pen said the proposed vaccine pass was akin to mandatory vaccination. Veran said he expected that next week France’s health authority will approve vaccination for children aged 5 to 11.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 19, 2021 00:05 UTC