Prognosis

France Speeds Up Vaccine Rollout as Slow Start Pressures Macron

  • Rollout falls far short of that seen in neighboring Germany
  • Vaccine skepticism, red tape are slowing delivery of shot
This weekend France started to vaccinate medical staff older than 50.Photographer: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images
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The French government is trying to make up for a slow start to its Covid-19 vaccination program after criticism from doctors and opposition politicians.

Several thousand people were given a shot on Monday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on a visit to a Paris hospital. That’s up from just over 500 as of Jan. 1. A total of 1 million doses will be available by the end of the week, he said.