Jean Terzian and Sudip Kar-Gupta

PARIS (Reuters). France’s Parliament approved Thursday President Emmanuel Macron’s plan for a vaccine bill to curb Omicron’s spread. This follows a heated debate sparked by Macron’s remarks that he would “piss off the unvaccinated.”

Macron said to Le Parisien newspaper that he wanted people who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination so complicated that they had to be pushed out of public places and then get jabbed.

Macron’s use of coarse language three months prior to a presidential election was seen widely as politically calculated. It taps into an increasing public dissatisfaction against unvaccinated people.

According to government data, more than 90% of people over 12 have had at least 2 doses. Olivier Veran, Health Minister, said that a record number received their first shots since October 1, after Macron’s remarks were made.

After an overnight session, the draft legislation that included the vaccine passed the lower house by a margin 214 to93. Many who opposed the bill came from left or far-right parties.

Before the final vote by the National Assembly, the legislation will be sent to the Senate.

France has required that people in France show proof of vaccination, or they will be refused entry to cafes and cinemas. With the rise in Omicron-type and Delta infections, the government dropped this option from the bill.

Over-16s will be able to get vaccines. Not 12 as initially requested by the government.

European countries are pondering whether they should force people to get immunized through mandates. Italy has made COVID-19 vaccine mandatory starting at 50 for everyone. Teachers and other public health personnel are also required to receive the vaccination.

Jean Castex, the Prime Minister, said that countries such as Italy and Austria have lower levels of compulsory vaccinations than France.

Castex stated that France was also ready to take a fourth COVID-shot when necessary.

France has registered more than 332,000 COVID-19 new cases over the last 24-hours and 246 COVID deaths at hospitals in France, according to Wednesday’s record.