A new tool against the Covid-19 epidemic, in particular against the Omicron variant. The vaccination pass comes into effect on Monday January 24, thus replacing the health pass in most places where it was requested. Most of the provisions of the bill establishing this pass, definitively adopted on January 16, have been validated by the Constitutional Council. “The vaccine pass is a game-changer and will allow you to resume normal activities again”defended Sunday Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for SMEs and Tourism, on Europe 1.
Criteria for obtaining it, places where it is required and exceptions, controls and sanctions… Franceinfo answers seven questions on the entry into force of this new measure.
1What is the vaccination pass?
From now on, proof of a negative Covid-19 screening test will no longer suffice to access certain places: the health pass thus becomes, in these cases, the vaccination pass. To obtain this new pass, you must have a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. two doses or just one (depending on the vaccine), then a booster dose “within the time limit”, explains the government. From February 15, this period will be reduced to four months after the second dose, against seven months currently. Medicare helps you calculate when you should receive your reminder.
People who do not yet have a complete vaccination schedule but wish to obtain it will be able to benefit from a temporary vaccination pass from the first dose, by committing to receiving the second injection within a month. “Pending the replacement of their health pass by a vaccination pass, these people must present a negative test”specifies Vie-publique.fr.
A certificate of recovery after a Covid-19 infection can also function as a vaccination pass, at least 11 days after the positive test and up to four months later. Finally, “the bill will in no way modify the rules applicable to medical contraindications to vaccination”, had assured the LREM deputy of Pas-de-Calais Pierre Pont, rapporteur of the text. The various cases of medical contraindication to vaccination remain available on the Health Insurance website.
2Who will be subject to this pass?
The vaccination pass will be requested from people aged 16 and over in France. However, adolescents aged 16 and 17 are, at this stage, exempt from the booster dose to activate their vaccination pass. The vaccine reminder campaign begins Monday for 12-17 year olds, without obligation.
Young people aged 12 to 15 are not affected by this new pass. They will remain subject to the obligation to present the current health pass for access to leisure activities, restaurants or interregional public transport. No pass is required for children under 12 for these activities.
3Where will it be requested?
The vaccination pass replaces the health pass in bars and restaurants, “with the exception of collective catering, the take-away sale of prepared meals and professional road and rail catering”, says the government. It is also required to access cinemas, museums, theatres, “sports arenas, sports halls and performance halls”as well as to “fairs, seminars and trade shows”lists the government.
This new pass also becomes compulsory for interregional transport (whether trains, buses or planes) and the prefects can decide to impose it to access department stores and shopping centers.
Employees who already had to present a health pass at their place of work, in a cinema, a public library or in a restaurant, will also be subject to the vaccination pass. One “proof of commitment to a vaccination schedule” however, will be sufficient to continue working in these sectors, until these people obtain a complete vaccination schedule.
4Are there exceptions?
Yes, a health pass will suffice to access medical and medico-social establishments, whether you are a patient or a companion: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes… No pass is required in the event of an emergency in these establishments.
The vaccination pass will also not be compulsory in the event of “compelling family or health reason” to take interregional transport. You will then simply have to present a negative test, “except in an emergency”.
Finally, prefects may decide to temporarily maintain the health pass in their territories, “when local circumstances so warrant”, says vie-publique.fr. The site notably gives the example of overseas territories where the vaccination rate is lower.
5How do I get this pass?
“Users will not have to do anything for their health pass to become a vaccination pass”responds to RTL the cabinet of the Secretary of State for Digital, Cédric O. The vaccination certificate and its QR code thus remain perfectly valid within the framework of the entry into force of the vaccination pass.
The people checking the passes must ensure that they have updated the TousAntiCovid Verif application, which ensures the validity of the passes. “Otherwise, they will have to synchronize the application on D-Day. Otherwise, the synchronization will be done automatically after 4 hours if the phone has an internet connection”develops with RTL the cabinet of Cédric O.
6Will an identity document be requested with the vaccination pass?
It’s a possibility “in case of serious doubt about the authenticity of the pass”, says vie-publique.fr. The people authorized to check your vaccination pass may then ask you for an official document including a photo, such as an identity card or a driving licence. The Constitutional Council, seized on the text, however recalled that “identity verification must be done on criteria excluding any discrimination”. All establishments open to the public and whose access is subject to the vaccination pass will have the right to check your identity.
7What are the penalties for fraud?
The sanctions are tougher with the entry into force of the vaccination pass. The presentation of a pass belonging to someone else and the fact of transmitting a vaccination pass to another person for fraudulent use will now be punished by a fine of 1,000 euros, from the first offence.
This penalty will be lifted for people who have presented a false pass (or another person’s pass), if they undertake to start their vaccination in the month following the offence.
If you hold several false vaccine passes, you risk five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros. Finally, professionals who do not check the vaccination pass in establishments open to the public risk a fine of 1,000 euros.