Despite calls, 61 percent of French do not intend to get vaccinated

On Thursday, December 3, Jean Castex presented France’s vaccination strategy to fight against the Coronavirus: A campaign in three phases which will begin in a few weeks and will run until the summer.

However, the French have not been convinced of its usefulness. According to an Ifop-Fiducial poll for CNews and Sud Radio, a majority (61 percent) of them are still reluctant to receive an injection and 28 percent are adamant about it. The remaining 33 percent will “probably not” get the vaccine.

In detail, the most reluctant ones are the voters of the National Rally (80 percent) and La France insoumise (69 percent). The supporters of the Socialist Party and the Republicans are very divided, since one half is in favor and the other is not.

Among supporters of President’s Macron’s La République en Marche, 62 percent are pro-vaccine.

Another lesson is that young people are the most reluctant to be vaccinated: 70 percent among those under 35 compared to 58 percent among those 35 and over. The reasons for this distrust? “There are fears about the harmfulness of vaccines, but also segments of the population susceptible to conspiracy theory. Many people also say they don’t need it, either because they have already been sick or because they do not feel in danger from the virus,” said Frédéric Dabi, deputy director general of the Ifop polling institute.

During an expected press conference, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that France will have a potential of reaching “200 million doses or 100 million people, knowing that the vaccine requires two doses a few weeks apart”. It will be completely free for everyone. The first phase will begin within a few weeks, at the end of December in January, and will target as a priority the elderly in establishment.

In nursing homes, residents and caregivers at risk will therefore be vaccinated first, which represents one million people. The second phase will begin in February 2021 and will continue until spring. It will be extended to nearly 14 million people “with an age-related risk factor”. Finally, the third and final phase, which will begin after spring, will consist in gradually opening up vaccination to the entire population.