Covid France: Can I get vaccinated at my place of work?

Reader question: I am 55 with diabetes and my company has an in-house doctor. Will I be able to get vaccinated against Covid-19 there?

Beginning today (February 25), it will be possible for anyone aged 50 to 64 with certain existing health conditions to get vaccinated against Covid-19 at their workplace - if the employer offers the service and there are enough vaccine doses.

The people eligible for this will be the same as those who are now able to receive the AstraZeneca vaccination in France. 

Covid France: Jabs begin for priority patients aged 50 to 64

This includes people aged 50 to 64 with existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, obesity, etc. 

France to start Covid jabs for under 65s: Who is eligible?

This will permit workplace doctors, whether internal or external, to administer these people with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As with all GPs, the workplace doctors will have to first acquire doses of the vaccine through a system of voluntary participation. Not all workplace doctors will therefore be offering the vaccination.

If your workplace doctor is participating in this scheme they will schedule appointments with patients they deem to be the highest priority.

Doctors will only receive one vial of the vaccine - which is equal to 10 doses - in the first week. They will receive a further two or three vials next week before distribution is stepped up more rapidly. 

The vaccination will not be mandatory for employees or anyone else. If you do not wish to receive the vaccine you can simply not accept an appointment.

In order to maintain medical confidentiality, France’s labour ministry protocol states that it is “preferable” for the vaccination to take place in the doctor’s practice or office and not in other areas of the company’s premises. 

Employees getting the vaccination do not need to state a reason to their employer for their visit to the workplace doctor. 

The second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be given between nine and 12 weeks after the first.

Read more:

How do I know if my GP in France has Covid vaccine doses?

Covid vaccine France: When will I get my first jab?