French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that healthcare workers will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and pledged to supply Tunisia and countries in the Middle East and Africa with vaccine shipments. In a televised address, Macron stated that France will continue to provide vaccines to countries in the Middle East and Africa, particularly assisting Tunisia.
Regarding the vaccination situation in France, the president indicated that "vaccines will be available for middle and high school students." He added, "Vaccination certificates against COVID will be mandatory in restaurants starting from August," announcing the requirement for healthcare workers to be vaccinated by September 15, before punitive measures come into effect.
During his speech, Macron urged the French people by saying, "I call on everyone to get vaccinated against COVID," emphasizing that "the vaccine is the most effective weapon against the virus and its variants." This televised address followed Macron hosting a high-level security meeting in the morning regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with a rapid spread of the Delta variant.
