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Montpellier honours British World War Two hero with memorial stone
His daughter travelled from London to attend the unveiling ceremony in southern France
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French national tests positive for hantavirus on arrival in France
Around 100 cases of hantavirus are recorded annually in France - but of a less serious variant. They are mainly in north-east France
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Uber Boat launches in seven French cities this summer
The service will offer leisure boat rentals starting in mid-June
Doctors concerned over low take-up of Covid and flu vaccines in France
Vulnerable groups are urged to get vaccinated as cases of flu reach epidemic levels
Doctors urge people in vulnerable groups to get vaccinated against Covid and flu to avoid pressure on hospitals with take-up rates for both judged to be too low.
Existing vaccines are considered effective against a new Covid variant JN.1, which made up 40% of reported Covid cases in mid-December in France and is deemed highly transmissible.
Read more: Alert over low take up for flu vaccination in France
Only a quarter of those eligible have had Covid booster
Covid infections are rising with GPs reporting 94,000 new cases from December 4 to 10.
A Covid booster at least six months after the last jab is recommended, particularly for over-65s, but only a quarter are up to date.
Flu jabs are down 8% compared to 2022 giving rise to fears of avoidable deaths, with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region now in an epidemic phase and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Ile-de-France, Occitanie, Hauts-de-France and Pays de la Loire in a pre-epidemic phase.
Read more: Flu now at epidemic level in France, south worst hit
You can have Covid and flu injections at the same time – one in each arm and there is no charge for at-risk groups, such as over 65s, pregnant women, people with heart and breathing-related disease and diabetes and care home residents.
You can be vaccinated at pharmacies or by doctors, nurses and midwives.
What if I am not at-risk and want a flu vaccination?
The vaccine can be purchased at pharmacies and costs between €6 and €12 depending on the brand. You can ask a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or midwife to administer the vaccination.
The price of a vaccination for people not targeted by the winter flu campaign is:
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In a pharmacy: €7.50
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By a nurse: €7.56
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By a doctor: €8.50 (the €25 consultation is reimbursed 70% for vaccinations)
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By a midwife: €8.50
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