Reports of shortages of virus vaccine in France

The mayor Nanterre near Paris said on Friday he was concerned by the low number of vaccine doses on offer in his town, which was slowing the fight against COVID-19.

On the tenth day of vaccinations at the Nanterre hospital near Paris, just 50 patients were scheduled to get the jab.

"In our town, we are ready to open a second vaccination center," said Mayor of Nanterre Patrick Jarry.

"The media claim that in the Hauts-de-Seine department we will have 400 vaccines per week per vaccination center which is not a lot," he added.

Sylvain Zana, a retired pharmacist who stepped up to join the coronavirus fight by helping some pharmacist friends two days a week, was one of those who did get the jab.

"Many people who try to book appointments don't get one now. They can't get one because there is either not enough vaccines, or not enough needles, or I don't know what. The government flounders a bit, they don't know what to say," he said.

France aims to have 500 to 600 vaccination centres around the country by the end of January, according to Health Minister Olivier Véran.