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Paris : A 78-year-old woman became the first in the nation to roll up sleeve to receive covid 19 vaccine Sunday.
The former housekeeper, now resident of the long-term care unit of a hospital in north Paris, said she's fine "'Ca va' (I am fine). Perfect," after receiving the shot at a hospital in Sevran.
President Emmanuel Macron tweeted responding to the vaccination drive: "We have a new weapon against the virus: the vaccine.
"The vaccine will not be compulsory. Let us have confidence in our researchers and doctors.
"We are the land of the Enlightenment and the Pastor, reason and science must guide us."
The President had tested positive for the virus on December 17 and has since recovered.
Only 40 per cent of French people have said that "they certainly or probably want to be vaccinated", according to the weekly epidemiological update of Public Health France published last week.
The French government has planned a gradual roll-out plan to invite citizens, on a voluntary basis and free of charge, to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
The authorities are aiming to vaccinate 1 million people, among the oldest and most vulnerable, by the end of February in the country's 7,000 nursing homes and related facilities.
To date, France has reported 2,616,510 confirmed coronavirus cases and 62,867 deaths.
IANS report withe edits