More than 1.7 million French people have received at least a first dose of the vaccine, and the government hopes to increase that figure to four million by the end of the month.

According to Prime Minister Jean Castex, 70% of residents in nursing homes, where the vaccination campaign is coming to an end, have agreed to be vaccinated.

Injections of the third vaccine against Covid-19 available in France, that of AstraZeneca, will begin on Saturday.

This will help speed up vaccination in France, according to Prime Minister Jean Castex, who spoke on Thursday evening.

At the same time, the vaccination campaign in nursing homes is coming to an end.

By the weekend, all voluntary residents of nursing homes will have received their first injection, the head of government said, with a membership rate of 70%.

Globally, more and more French people want to be vaccinated, he assured.

But at this stage, the priority populations remain those over 75, people with serious pathologies and nursing staff.

And to meet their demand, new meeting slots will open on Friday.

"I also fully appreciate the anguish of all these people over the age of 75 who have not yet secured an appointment. That is why I want to tell you that we will be opening 1.7 million in the next few days. additional appointments for the first injections, ”announced Jean Castex.

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The AstraZeneca vaccine, initially reserved for caregivers

As for the first deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine, they will initially be allocated to health establishments to protect caregivers, before an expansion of the vaccination campaign by general practitioners and pharmacists, with stocks of other available vaccines. 

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Thursday evening, 1.766 million people had received at least a first dose of vaccine and 189,000 a booster, said the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, who was alongside Jean Castex.

The government ensures that four million French people will have received their first injection by the end of February.