I’m not replying to anyone in particular, I just find it really sad that the media in general has turned the pandemic into some sort of sick contest. Who has the least/most dead and now , who’s rolling out the vaccine the quickest? Finally General Incompetent and the Despicable’s in the UK have managed to get something vaguely right but I fully expect them to screw it up at some point. Macron has to do what he believes is right for France, can’t fault the man for taking a measured approach.
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According to Covidtracker.fr …(well recommended) France is on track to achieve 1m vaccinations before (just) 31st January and has 100m doses on order.
I know you can now try to book an online appointment if over 75 and health workers over 50 and others who have a doctors prescription as being high risk …this will take up I understand all the present vaccination capacity into mid or later in March at best.
But where is the Gov’ published programme of roll out to be seen as I’m not sure what the plan is and what we need to do?
Will it be necessary to make an appointment or will we get called as we did (age 65 -70 ) age group for flu jab and for various cancer screening?
This seemed very efficient so why (or will they be doing so) not send out appointment in a similar way, or do we have to make our own appointments and hope not be waiting months. We want our lives to get back to something like normal as soon as possible as I’m sure is true for us all !!
Why should you expect them to screw it up ? It is not impossible that they get something right. If the right people are left to do the job then there is no reason for it to go wrong
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The main difference here in France, I believe, is the reluctance to engage in a pissing contest (as evidenced elsewhere, shall we say) but to quietly get on with the job. I draw comparisons with the CdS issue… the systems are in place and I have confidence that France will get round to completion in a timely fashion without the need for great fanfares (and testiculation) 
That is less in the hands of gouvernement as it is in the hands of the conduct of the populace.
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The last Castex press conference (video still on the gouvernement.fr site) outlined the current plan. But it can only be based on deliveries of the vaccines. This shows the doses expected at that point…
As soon as (and if) the AZ vaccine is authorised, vaccination will be more accessible locally.
Agree with your sentiment re the media, and they should report fact but not in a “who’s winning the war” style.
Macron is reported at being very frustrated at the slow roll out…it seems it’s the bureaucracy (medics?) who are soft peddling here. He more than anyone else will know the damage and cost to mental health, education and the economy.
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I agree Graham it would be wrong to assume the vaccination as some magic panacea,people still need to to their bit ,keep distant ,hygiene etc
When you get the vaccine in the Uk they are quick to tell you that they cannot promise you can’t pass it on to others and you must stick to the guidelines
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but what is lacking, or i cannot find, is who (by age or risk) is going to get it when, and how are they going to be notified…or is it down to an individual try and book as part of a mad scramble.
No mad scrambles in France John. It’s a Republique not a nanny state so people will make their own judgements on what to do based on guidance from the centre.
No real reason why they should Eddie, but they really have to leave it to the people that do the job and can deliver. The NHS do a great job at the best of times, they should be getting far more support than they have done for many, many years. I have my fingers crossed that they leave it to the NHS and not one of their sticky fingered buddies.
I am on mobile at the moment so can’t give you the link. But it is laid out and letters are being sent out this week to first tranche.
Surely the slow roll out has more to do with the fact that Macron “bet” on Sanofi’s vaccine - he wanted to use France’s own version - and it has not proved to be efficacious. So France has been scrabbling around (late in the day) trying to buy vaccine from elsewhere. I think there is now an attempt to make a virtue out of the situation that has arisen as a result.
In the UK there was far less chauvinism - yes there was support for Astra-Zeneca but also there was a more pragmatic approach which meant there was a willingness to look at vaccines from other countries.
I applaud what is happening in the UK and am full of admiration for the speed of the process and how well it’s working - if “competition” has to play its part in getting that level of energy, commitment and enthusiasm then so be it. It’s worth remembering that many of the top decision makers in all walks of life are Alpha males and females, largely Type A personalities, and competitiveness is what drives them.
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I have seen it reported that some people (numpties) want to wait for the British vaccine and a refusing those from overseas.
Oh Lord! OH just been talking to a friend in the UK who’s elderly sister has had the Pfizer jab. Our friend is now concerned that when he gets his shortly he may get the Astra-Zeneca version and will he and his sister be “compatible”!!!
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The vaccine is not truly effective until a couple of weeks have passed. The second injection completes the process. If you get one jab and then walk around as if everythinbg was normal, you are very likely to be infected again. When I was a soldier, I had a large number of jabs without knowing what any of them were for - I’m stilll here so I’ll take the vaccine, thank you, when it is offered. Anything to avoid being sick or dead!! I hate hospitals too.
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Part of my job when I worked for a subgroup of MSF dealing with Afghan refugees, was vaccinating people. I always told them what the pishkaré (injections) were for, I am surprised you weren’t told.
They don’t actually say you can’t get it after the vaccination, but it should be be milder and you shouldn’t be as ill
You can watch the Castex video. At 35 mins or so he starts to explain about vaccinations. Then Véran describes the current phase which started on 18th Jan, for over 75s, and those with serious conditions (listed). The process is described. You contact a centre of vaccination and make an appointment via sante.fr or by phone. I believe you can also use doctolib. There’s no reason to think it will be any different for the over 65s ( in March, hopefully) unless perhaps they start to use the AZ vaccine which could be stored and administered in local pharmacies. It is obviously planned, with target dates and groups, but to some extent it must be a moving target dependent on the different vaccine approvals, production, transport and storage requirements. Pfizer has temporarily reduced deliveries - for a week I believe - apparently so it can ramp up production, so that may have an effect on timing. I recommend that you watch at least part of this press conference (it is rather long, but thorough) and look out for more which will take place no doubt in the coming weeks. They’re always on the TV. You can watch TV or Franceinfo on the internet. We never miss these briefings.
It is on this page … Alerte Covid | gouvernement.fr
I had my first jag this morning. On arrival I was checked for eligibility, and because I am under 75 was asked for my attestation or ordnance. I explained that I had seen my GP last week who confirmed I was high risk and said I didn’t need a prescription. She was wrong. So I had to wait while they spoke to my GP to confirm, and a doctor had to sign for me. I was told that without this I would have been turned away, as they had a waiting list of eligible people they would call to take my place.
I asked if my 66 yr old OH could book an appointment and she looked faintly shocked. Not yet she said, it will be announced at the end Feb/early March.
So I don’t know how you did get the rdv without the checks, but be warned you may not get through the door if you have neither an attestation or a prescription.
(Personally I would think fairer to cancel you appt, but obviously up to you.)
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just for info and why so many aren’t too convinced yet 