President Emmanuel Macron of France on Tuesday said that the country was aiming to launch a widespread COVID-19 vaccination campaign between April and June.

Speaking at the press briefing at the Elysee Palace in Paris, the 42-year-old President stated that the first vaccination drive in the country would begin in early 2021 and would target the most fragile and exposed groups. 

He added that the remainder of the French population would be inoculated against the virus in a second vaccine campaign.

While addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Jean Castex stated that residents of retirement homes and staff working there would receive vaccinations on a priority basis.

US firm Moderna had on Monday filed for emergency authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine use in the United States and Europe, uplifting popular mood and hopes of receiving early COVID-19 vaccine shots before the end of 2020 skyrocketed.

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Vaccine makers Pfizer and BioNTech also submitted for emergency approval in Europe on Monday, and both vaccine manufacturers claiming that their inoculations have a 95% efficacy.

Pfizer/BioNTech are on track to start inoculation of patients in the US shortly after December 10, but Europe’s medical regulators will decide by December 29 on whether to grant emergency approval.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 52,700 lives since its inception, with 2.22 million people contracting the disease.