France’s autumn vaccination campaign will begin on 13 October, with health officials urging eligible people to receive flu and Covid-19 jabs together ahead of a potentially difficult season.
France will launch its joint autumn vaccination drive against flu and Covid-19 on 13 October, as health officials warn that protection levels remain too low despite encouraging gains in recent years. Gregory Emery, the director general of health, said this week that coverage was still not where it needed to be, while public health authorities continue to push both jabs because they help reduce severe illness, hospital admissions and deaths.
The campaign comes as flu activity is already appearing earlier than usual in parts of the northern hemisphere, adding urgency to the message from French health officials. Health authorities recommend that people eligible for both vaccines receive them together, regardless of age, and say the two injections can be given on the same day at different sites on the body. Assurance Maladie notes that the Covid shot is administered as a single intramuscular injection, with a 15-minute observation period afterwards.
Five vaccines are available for the 2026-27 flu season in France. According to Assurance Maladie, the list includes VaxigripTetra and Influvac Tetra, as well as Efluelda and Fluad, which are preferred for some older adults because they are designed to provide stronger protection in later life. For Covid-19, the authorities are recommending messenger RNA vaccines adapted to the variant currently circulating, including Comirnaty XFG from Pfizer/BioNTech.
The same priority groups are targeted for both diseases. They include people aged 65 and over, residents of care homes, pregnant women, people living with obesity, anyone with a chronic illness from the age of six months onwards, and immunocompromised patients and those around them. Health officials also advise vaccination for carers and close contacts of fragile babies. The health ministry says Covid vaccination is also recommended for people with psychiatric disorders, dementia or Down’s syndrome.
Cost depends on the vaccine and the person receiving it. Covid vaccines are fully covered by the French health insurance system and are free even for adults who are not formally recommended for vaccination but still want it. Flu shots are fully covered only for people who fall within the recommended groups. Children aged between two and 17 without other health problems have 65% of the cost covered, while everyone else outside the recommendation list must pay out of pocket if they choose to be vaccinated. The jabs can be given by doctors, midwives, nurses or pharmacists, underlining the government’s effort to make access as broad as possible ahead of what officials fear could be a difficult season.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
