French parliament approves Macron’s vaccine pass

The legislation will go to the Senate before a final vote in the National Assembly.

People in France have for several months had to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter venues such as cinemas and cafes and use trains. But with Delta and Omicron variant infections surging, the government decided to drop the test option in the new bill.

The vaccine pass rules will apply to over-16s and not over-12 as the government had initially sought.

European countries have grappled with the possibility of mandating citizens to force them to vaccinate. Italy on Wednesday made the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for people aged 50 and over, teachers and public health workers are already required to get vaccinated. , Prime Minister Jean Castex said.

Countries that had switched to compulsory vaccination, such as Italy and Austria, had lower vaccination rates than France.