Fabienne Garbo’s father suffers from an illness similar to Alzheimer’s and was eligible for a Covid-19 shot as soon as France started vaccinating care home residents. But she has not signed the consent form, Reuters reports.

“I prefer to be cautious and protect my father rather than give him a vaccine about which we still know little,” Garbo said. “He risks catching the virus but it would be like any other disease.”

Refusal rates in France's nursing homes are at about 10 per cent, according to the FEHAP care home federation. But the inability to inoculate all residents risks delaying the lifting of tight restrictions on outside visits and social interactions between residents.

Citizens have to give their consent to a doctor before they are inoculated against the coronavirus. A family member or legal custodian must do so for those who cannot.