evidence: Amid High Vaccine Skepticism, France Has Inoculated 75% Of Its Population France enacted tough vaccine mandates in July, in anticipation of a fourth wave of COVID-19. Some people took to the streets in protest, but most complied. [...] ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: France, a country with a reputation for high vaccine skepticism, has now inoculated 75% of its population. And it's 86% if you take those over the age of 12. French health minister Olivier Veran spoke on RTL radio.