Vaccination now mandatory in French Polynesia

11:15 am on 24 January 2022

A further 1,000 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the past two days at the presidential palace in French Polynesia as the law making vaccinations mandatory will now be fully implemented.

About 77 percent of the eligible population has received at least two doses in a continued drive to cope with the rise in Omicron cases.

The seven-day average of new cases, which a month ago was one, has risen to 80.

There have been no fatalities for three months after a sharp spike last year when more than 600 people died.

In view of last year's outbreak, the territorial assembly approved a law making vaccinations mandatory by October for people working with the public but in the face of repeated demonstrations the government deferred its application to late December.

The law faced several challenges in France's highest court, but they were all dismissed.

The vaccine roll-out for 5 to 11-year-olds started on Monday after Medsafe approved the Pfizer paediatric vaccination last month.

Photo: Getty Picture Alliance

While the law came into force, nobody has been fined the stipulated $US1,650 for breaching it.

However, from this weekend, the penalties will apply, although there are questions if the full amount will be charged.

Facing protests and a general strike in November, President Edouard Fritch agreed to lower the fine to $US760.

However, the assembly is yet to vote on the promised change.

The government has instructed its health agency to check compliance in the working place because employers cannot query the vaccination status of their staff.

French Polynesia is also poised to introduce France's new Covid-19 health pass which will exclude unvaccinated people from restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.

The new measure was voted in in the National Assembly in view of the surge in the number of Omicron cases in France.

Fritch, who had spoken out in favour of such a pass to help shore up the healthcare system, is yet to say when the new pass will come into force.

Residents had earlier been advised that their current form of health pass would lapse if the second jab wasn't taken within seven months of the first one.

Among those committed to defy the vaccination law are a government minister, Tearii Alpha, and the assembly president, Gaston Tong Sang.

The tourism minister, Nicole Bouteau, resigned last year in protest at a minister being allowed to go against government policy.