The transformation of the health pass into a vaccine pass, the government's weapon to fight against the surge of the Omicron variant, is currently being debated in the National Assembly.
This new device should make it possible to strengthen health security in a period of high epidemic pressure, and at the same time push recalcitrant French people to be vaccinated or to obtain their booster dose.
To discover
Prime Macron 2021: how does it work?
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The vaccination pass promises to be more restrictive for the French, and will be accompanied by some subtleties.
If all the measures still have to be debated by the National Assembly and the Senate - with nearly 650 amendments tabled - here is what the bill presented by the government provides to date.
How to get a valid vaccination pass?
A valid vaccination pass is issued for people who have received their various injections within the allotted time.
Here they are in detail:
The first dose of vaccine can be received at any time.
The second dose of vaccine should be performed within 21 to 49 days of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.
For people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this period of 4 weeks minimum.
Finally, the time between the second and the third dose (or booster dose) will be reduced from 7 months to 4 months from February 15.
A dose must therefore be obtained within this period of time, otherwise the vaccination pass will no longer be valid.
Health Insurance has put online a tool to calculate the date from which you can take your booster dose.
In addition, and as the Minister of Health Olivier Véran recalled, an infection with the coronavirus continues to be equivalent to an infection.
Thus, a person who would have received two doses of vaccine and then have been infected with the coronavirus would also benefit from a valid vaccination pass.
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From when will the vaccination pass be necessary?
The bill transforming the health pass into a vaccination pass is currently being examined by Parliament in an accelerated procedure to enter into force from
January 15, 2022.
Who will be affected by the vaccination pass?
The health pass was initially imposed on all adults over 18, before being extended to adolescents aged 12 and two months to 17 years, from September 30, 2021.
The vaccination pass, for its part, should be imposed on these same age categories, but an amendment tabled last week in committee has slightly relaxed the framework for minors.
Deposed by LREM MP Caroline Abadie, it provides an exemption for adolescents from 12 to 18 years old who must participate in a school trip.
The latter should thus be able to access these outings by simply presenting a negative test, even if the outing in question takes place in a place affected by the vaccination pass.
In which place should a vaccination pass be presented?
Article 1 of the bill provides that the vaccination pass will be required for "
access to leisure activities, restaurants and drinking establishments [bars], fairs, seminars and trade shows or even to interregional transport
" - planes, trains and coaches in particular.
By prefectural decision, access to shopping centers could also be conditioned on presentation of a vaccination pass.
With regard to transport, an exception is provided since it will not be necessary to present a vaccination pass if the passenger can justify an
"overriding family or health reason".
He will then have to present a negative test,
"except in an emergency"
.
On the other hand, the health pass based on a negative test result can still be presented to enter health establishments and services and medico-social services, where it was already imposed on visitors.
Who will control the vaccination pass?
In order to fight against fraud, the government has added to the bill a measure to strengthen controls, by way of amendment.
This provision allows those in charge of a place where the vaccination pass is required to request an official identity document if "there
are serious reasons to believe
" that the vaccination pass which has been presented "
is not authentic or not. does not relate to the person present
”.
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In the event of proven fraud, the penalties provided for have also been tightened.
From the first breach, a fine of 1000 euros can be imposed, against 135 euros previously.
The possession of a false vaccination pass will also be severely punished, with a fine of 75,000 euros and five years' imprisonment.