France ‘on the right track’ as close to 50 million have at least one vaccine dose

As almost 50 million French people have received at least one vaccine dose against COVID-19, the country is “on the right track,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters on Tuesday.

So far, 48.5 million French have received their first injection, and 43.9 million – or 65 % of the population – are fully vaccinated against the virus. Thanks to these numbers, the fourth wave, which was triggered earlier this summer due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, has remained under control, the prime minister added.

Even though there is still “work to be done,” Castex was optimistic. “We want to get back to normal life. I hope we’re not far away from that now”, he said.

Regarding citizens that remain reluctant to get the jab, “we cannot reproach anyone for being afraid,” the prime minister said.

“I believe that conviction and a sense of responsibility remain our main weapons” in the fight against COVID-19, the French PM added.