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France Launches 2026 COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Infections
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In brief
France's 2026–2027 COVID-19 and flu vaccination campaign began on 13 October, as doctors and emergency rooms reported more suspected COVID-19 cases nationwide. An epidemiologist described the rise as a new wave, but the Health Ministry said on 5 October that the increase did not justify moving the campaign's start date earlier.
France's autumn vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and seasonal flu opened on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in mainland France and most overseas territories, excluding Mayotte and Réunion, according to the healthcare group Elsan and a report republished from 20 Minutes.
The launch coincides with what one epidemiologist has called a resurgence of COVID-19 infections across the country, prompting a public debate over whether the campaign should have started earlier.
Rising infections before the campaign
Data cited by France 3 Occitanie and a report republished from 20 Minutes show emergency-department visits for suspected COVID-19 among adults rose 67% in the week of 14–20 September 2026 compared with the previous week, while consultations for suspected COVID-19 through the SOS Médecins home-visit network rose 26% nationally over one week.
Montpellier-based epidemiologist Mircea Sofonea said of the increase, as quoted by France 3 Occitanie.
On peut parler d'une nouvelle vague de Covid-19 (We can speak of a new wave of Covid-19).
A later report by Orange Actu put the one-week increase in emergency-room visits for suspected COVID-19 at 22%. The same report said more patients were consulting their doctors and that demand for COVID-19 self-tests was climbing.
Why the campaign was not moved earlier
Despite the rising figures, France's Ministry of Health said on 5 October 2026 that current indicators did not justify bringing the vaccination campaign forward, according to a report by Sud Radio. The ministry stated that, at that stage, the indicators did not show a situation warranting an earlier start to the campaign.
The ministry said COVID-19 circulation had increased over several weeks but that pressure on hospitals remained limited, Sud Radio reported.
Who can get vaccinated, and where
The 2026–2027 campaign uses Comirnaty XFG, an mRNA vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech adapted to the Omicron XFG sub-lineage, in two dosages: 10 micrograms for children aged 6 months to 11 years, and 30 micrograms for people aged 12 and over, according to Elsan.
- People aged 65 and over
- Pregnant women
- Immunocompromised people
- Residents of medico-social care facilities
- Healthcare workers and staff in regular contact with vulnerable people
- Children from 6 months old in specific risk situations
According to Elsan, anyone who wants voluntary protection can also be vaccinated, and the personal-finance site Selectra reports the vaccine is open to anyone aged 5 and over. Vaccination can take place at pharmacies without an appointment, at general practitioners, nurses or midwives, or at dedicated vaccination centres and healthcare facilities, Elsan said. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given on the same day.
The six-month waiting rule
Selectra reports that pharmacists are required to refuse a COVID-19 vaccination if a person's last dose or last confirmed infection occurred less than a set number of months earlier, counted from whichever is more recent.
| Group | Minimum wait |
|---|---|
| General public | 6 months |
| People aged 80 and over | 3 months |
| Immunocompromised people | 3 months |
| High-risk patients (on medical decision) | 3 months |
The vaccine itself is fully covered by France's national health insurance system, Selectra reports. The cost of administering it follows standard reimbursement rates — 70% for pharmacists and 60% for nurses — with complementary insurance able to cover the remainder.
What is still unclear
The exact national case count for COVID-19 in October 2026 has not been detailed in the reports reviewed, which rely on indirect indicators such as emergency-room visits, SOS Médecins consultations and self-test sales rather than confirmed infection totals. It is also not yet clear from these reports how the current rise compares with hospital or intensive-care occupancy, figures that the Ministry of Health has cited as remaining limited.
Questions
- When did France's 2026 COVID-19 vaccination campaign start?
- The campaign began on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in mainland France and most overseas territories, alongside the seasonal flu vaccination campaign, according to Elsan and a 20 Minutes report.
- Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in France this season?
- Priority groups include people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, immunocompromised people, care-facility residents, healthcare workers and some at-risk children from 6 months old; Selectra reports the vaccine is also open to anyone aged 5 and over who wants it, per Elsan and Selectra.
- Is the COVID-19 vaccine free in France?
- Yes. Selectra reports the vaccine itself is covered at 100% by national health insurance, while the cost of the injection follows standard reimbursement rates depending on who administers it.
- How long must I wait between a COVID-19 infection or dose and a new vaccination?
- Selectra reports a general minimum wait of 6 months since the last dose or infection, reduced to 3 months for people aged 80 and over, immunocompromised people, and certain high-risk patients on medical decision.
- Is France experiencing a new COVID-19 wave?
- Epidemiologist Mircea Sofonea said the rise in cases could be described as a new wave, as reported by France 3 Occitanie, but the Health Ministry said on 5 October 2026 that indicators did not show a situation serious enough to move the vaccination campaign forward, according to Sud Radio.
How the world is telling it
- FrenchFrench outlets frame the story around two practical angles: whether rising emergency-room and SOS Médecins figures amount to a 'new wave' that could justify advancing the 13 October campaign, and the concrete rules patients need to know — eligibility, the Comirnaty XFG vaccine, pharmacy access and the 3-to-6-month waiting period since a last dose or infection. Coverage largely relays the Health Ministry's position that current indicators do not justify changing the campaign's timing.
Sources
- Selectra — Vaccin Covid : le délai de 6 mois à respecter chez le pharmacien
- Orange Actu — Face à une recrudescence des infections au Covid, les patients consultent et les autotests augmentent
- Elsan — Vaccin contre le Covid-19 : la campagne d'immunisation 2026-2027 débute le 13 octobre
- 20 Minutes (via Shango Media) — « Nouvelle vague » du Covid-19 ? La campagne de vaccination commence mardi
- France 3 Occitanie — « On peut parler d'une nouvelle vague » : les cas de Covid-19 en recrudescence
- Sud Radio — Covid : la circulation actuelle ne nécessite pas d'avancer la vaccination, selon le ministère de la Santé
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
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