Vaccines and PCR tests are free for all French people since they are available on the territory.
But this commitment on the part of the State has of course a cost: the vaccination campaign will represent, in 2021, a financial commitment of 5.2 billion euros, revealed the Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts Olivier Dussopt, at the microphone of Radio J. As for the tests also supported by the State, they represented a cost of 2.8 billion euros in 2020. The Minister Delegate predicts that this sum will exceed 5 billion euros in 2021, "
but these are the best solutions for the health of the French and for the economy
", supports the Minister Delegate.
To read also: Olivier Dussopt: "We will disconnect the aid gradually"
"A rapid economic rebound" hoped for
These amounts must in fact be put into perspective with the cost of the support measures for businesses and employees which have been put in place by the State for more than a year.
"
We estimate that the cost of the crisis, without counting the recovery plan [of 100 billion euros, including 40 billion contributed by the European Union, Editor's note], will be between 55 and 60 billion euros in 2021
" , specifies Olivier Dussopt.
Bercy further estimates that the deficit will widen to 9% of GDP.
A more pessimistic forecast than the one presented when the finance law was voted for 2021, which was based on an estimate of the deficit at 8.5%.
"
This deterioration is due to an unprecedented level of aid
", explains Olivier Dussopt.
Read also: Covid-19: aid will cost the state 10 billion euros in April, according to Olivier Dussopt
For the Ministry of the Economy, the objective is now to initiate a rapid recovery with deconfinement. "
The level of expenditure is justified, but it will be necessary to stop,
warns the Deputy Minister
. And we have at our disposal figures which lead us to believe in a rapid rebound of the economy
”, citing the sums collected through the means of the value added tax (VAT) in January and February 2021, at the time of a relative relaxation of health measures. “
Up to 500 million euros,
” tax revenue from VAT was comparable to that of January and February 2020, before the health crisis. Remember that this tax brings in around 10 billion euros to the State each month.