Of course the over 89% of the French population which are fully vaccinated does not include under 12. Children under 12 are not eligible for vaccination. It is pointless to include those not eligible as part of the fully vaccinated percentage.

The point is that the French population has a far higher vaccination rate than does the US population.

"The point is that the French population has a far higher vaccination rate than does the US population."

Which has nothing to do with anything really. Omicrom apparently doesn't respect vaccination status, and France is experiencing a surge in cases just like everywhere else.

Vaccination provides no protection from Omicrom? The unvaccinated are the cause of the case surge in France and the unvaccinated represent 95% of the current deaths according to Jean Castex, the Premier minister, in a recent speech.

The idea that vaccination rates mean nothing is absolute nonsense.

it's changing fast in France, with Omicron only hitting the numbers now, they are mainly still on Delta

"The idea that vaccination rates mean nothing is absolute nonsense."

I didn't say that. I meant 1) Vax rate has little to do with the topic at hand, and 2) stats/vax rates have nothing to do with any individual's experience. Every single person one comes in contact with could be vaccinated/boosted and s/he could still come down with omicron (or delta or any other variant). There are break through cases.

Let's quit derailing every single covid-travel thread with 'my country is better than your country' arguments. With rules changing by the day, traveling right now is full of uncertainties no matter where one is talking about.

Are you going just for a vacation or are you going to Paris for something special or it is your first trip? Can you go somewhere else?

I had a somewhat similar situation in early November. I had a couple of trips planned out. November in northern Italy (2nd attempt), then Croatia, and April (2022) in Paris. I was unable to meet Italy's requirement for entry, so changed my Nov trip from Italy to Croatia as they made entry easy. Crostia ooked and ready to go when airline changed my flight and CDC raised Croatia level to 4. Cancelled Croatia and moved Paris to November. I already had all trips planned out so easy to switch to Paris.

Dilemma: my already booked Croatia was level 4 but as not as popular a tourist attraction as Paris, not as many people and no time sensitive ticket entry and a lot of strolling, or should I still go or go to Paris, CDC level 3 but probably the #1 destination city in the world, timed entry for almost everywhere I wanted to go with crowds. Made the choice to go to Paris. Got the booster the day I flew out but even in small unknown museums, crowds. EVERYONE wore masks and pass sanitaire first thing that was checked.

Hindsight: for first major trip of the pandemic, should have gone to Croatia, as probably no crowds, no timed tickets, lots of strolling. First eight days of my trip were school holidays so lots of kids and families in museums, tours in Paris and you will run into the same groups over Christmas.

No easy answer.

It's not just the unvaccinated who are causing the case surge. Some number of people who are fully vaccinated are getting re-infected via Omicron. And the majority of Omicron cases (esp. in the vaccinated) present no significant symptoms that prompt testing (not to mention those who don't care enough to be tested), so it's not clear just how many people are out there shedding the virus, spreading Covid. So, at least during the Omicron phase, vaccination rates have little meaning except when looking at hospitalization and death numbers. The unvaccinated represent the greatest number of hospitalizations and deaths, but it's entirely possible some caught Covid from a fully-vaccinated, asymptomatic person.

Hospitalizations and deaths are basically all that matters, and that has everything to do with vaccination.

It baffles me why anyone wants to travel overseas during a pandemic.

Speaking for myself - here is what our thoughts were. We are from the USA.

In July 1019 after returning from a month in France, my 99 year old FIL had 2 strokes. My wife is his only relative. He was a mess. We immediately cancelled our Aug/Sept 2019 month-long trip to Alsace/Burgundy & rescheduled it for 2020.

Covid hit in March 2020

In early 2020, we cancelled plans for a May trip to Scotland because of Covid. We rescheduled Scotland for 2021. In July 2020 we cancelled plans for Alsace/Burgundy & rescheduled for 2021. Thinking Covid would be over by Dec 2020, we reserved an apt in Pars for 2 weeks in Dec 2020. In Nov 2020 we cancelled Paris & rescheduled for Dec 2021. In very early 2021 we were vaccinated - and hopeful . UK was "behind" the US & they were imposing restrictions on travel. In early 2021 we cancelled Scotland again & rescheduled for 2022. In July 2021, we cancelled Alsace/Burgundy & rescheduled for 2022.

Thinking Covid would be a little easier to work around, and there were manageable restrictions in France - we did not cancel Paris. We received our Passe Sanitaire. We arrived in Paris with no problems - but 2 days later, France required a negative Covid test to enter France. This impacted our friends who were joining us in Paris. About half way through our trip, the US required a negative Covid test to be performed 1 day before departure from France. More & more & more restriction.. I was a nervous wreck while in Paris - wondering if we would be stuck in France in the winter. Our friends planned to travel to Amsterdam from Paris. But they cancelled & went to Strasbourg instead. Germany & the UK tightened restrictions. We were happy when we got on the place & returned home safely (last week). With hindsight - I would not have traveled to Paris. My wife has no regrets, however.

Stu Dudley

Millie, I totally agree with you. It is frustrating to see how continued travel has contributed to the pandemic. One person traveling can unknowingly infect so many.

Stu, Thank you for posting your experience.

I would love to take a trip or a cruise or even a weekend, just anywhere, but (especially with a chronic illness) even with vaccination and boosters, it does not feel safe.

US CDC adds France to ‘very high’ Covid-19 risk list, urges against travel

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211207-us-cdc-adds-france-to-very-high-covid-19-risk-list-urges-against-travel

Did you notice that the article was from a few weeks ago already?

No but I thought maybe Sarastro needed a heads up.

We're moving into a soft lockdown =
Omicron Is Pushing America Into Soft Lockdown
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mark...own/ar-AAS9zNl


Everyone makes the decision that works for them. I didn't want to be sick away from home nor not be able to fly home due to a quarantine. I noticed a refund of my Van Gogh museum ticket for Christmas Day. They closed due to the virus.

Post #14. The OP has already cancelled/rescheduled.