French Polynesia introduces French vaccine pass

10:45 am on 31 January 2022

The French Covid-19 vaccine pass will come into force in French Polynesia in a week, replacing the health pass in use for access to venues and events.

The French High Commission said the new provisions, adopted by the French National Assembly earlier this month, will apply from 8 February for those 16 years and older.

Unvaccinated people will then be excluded from restaurants, sports arenas and other venues, and it will stop them from inter-island travel.

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Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Exceptions will be granted for unvaccinated outer island residents wanting to return home from Tahiti.

Domestic air travel declined markedly when the health pass was introduced last year, and a further reduction is expected with the new regime next month.

The current health pass will still be accepted for those 12 years and older to make visits in hospitals.

About 77 percent of those older than 12 have been fully vaccinated.

At the end of last week, there were just under 600 active cases in the community, and one person was in hospital.