Reader question: I have heard that a person who had a first dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine needs a prescription from their doctor before they can get a booster dose. Is this correct?
There is no official statement from the government or health authorities that this is the case.
Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine (also known as Janssen) is intended to be given in a single shot.
However, since August 23, it has been recommended that anyone in France who received this vaccine should receive a second booster shot, with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The person is eligible for this booster four weeks after receiving their Janssen shot.
No doctor’s prescription is required and you can get the booster shot at:
- Vaccination centres
- Pharmacies (not all but many offer this service)
- Doctor’s practice / nurse’s practice
- Some workplaces
- Some medical laboratories
Only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being used in France to give booster doses. Moderna is only being given to people aged 30 and over.
Read more: Which Covid vaccine will I get for my booster dose in France?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only being given to people aged 55 and over.
It is not being administered in vaccination centres, and is only available in GP practices, workplaces with a designated doctor, at pharmacies, at nurses’ practices or at a midwife’s practice.
It is the least used Covid vaccine in France, with just 1,049,618 people having received it as of the latest figures from November 11.
The graph below shows the number of Covid vaccine doses administered in France per type of vaccine.
Pic: Covidtracker
How can I book an appointment?
As with first and second vaccine dose appointments, there are several ways to get an appointment.
You can check for available appointments in your area via sante.fr, or you can directly book appointments online in your area via platforms such as Doctolib, Keldoc and Maiia.
Alternatively, you can use the online tool ViteMaDose to find your nearest available appointment.
There is also a helpline where phone call handlers can help you to book an appointment (there is no guarantee they will speak English): 0800 009 110. It is open seven days a week between 06:00 and 22:00.
You can also directly visit your local pharmacy, many of which are offering vaccine appointments, or call your GP, who will either be able to give you a vaccine or help you find an appointment if necessary.
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