France launches winter 2025–2026 flu and Covid vaccination campaign

A combined Covid-19 and flu vaccination campaign will begin in France on October 14, as health authorities look to curb the illnesses and prevent a hospitalisation surge this winter.

Similar to recent vaccination campaigns, the injections can be given simultaneously to prevent the need to make two appointments, with one in each arm. 

Otherwise, patients can opt to receive just one.

The vaccines can be given by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and midwives, based on whether you have a voucher or prescription for the vaccine with you.

During the previous flu season, close to 30,000 people in France were hospitalised with flu or flu-like symptoms, with three million doctor appointments made for flu-like symptoms.

There are concerns a new strain of Covid-19 known as ‘XFG’ or ‘Frankenstein’, which has seen thousands of new cases in recent weeks, will strain health resources.

How does vaccine drive work? Vouchers, costs, appointments

As with previous years, the cost of Covid-19 vaccines are fully covered for those subscribed to France’s state health insurance Assurance Maladie. 

You still need to make an appointment to receive the vaccine, either at a GP, pharmacy, or with a midwife where possible, but this will be fully reimbursed.

The Covid-19 jab is optional but is recommended for people who are:

• Aged 65 and over

• Have a comorbidity (including complicated hypertension, chronic cardiac, vascular, hepatic, renal, and pulmonary conditions, diabetes, obesity, cancer, or are transplant recipients). People with Down syndrome and dementia have been added to this list for the 2025 year

• Immunocompromised

• Pregnant

• Are residents of a nursing home (EHPAD) or elderly-person care facility

• Living in the immediate circle of or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people

• Professionals in the healthcare and social care sectors

For the flu jab, millions of people will receive a free ‘voucher’ through the post, entitling them to the vaccine at no charge.

This includes:

• People aged 65 and over

• People under 65, including children as young as six months old, suffering from certain chronic illnesses (see here in France’s vaccine schedule)

• Pregnant women

• People suffering from obesity (body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40

• People staying in a post-acute care facility or a residential medical-social facility, regardless of age

In addition, vouchers are available for those who are not vulnerable themselves but who work with vulnerable people and animals including:

• Healthcare professionals and any professional in regular and prolonged contact with people at risk

• Those close to infants under six months at risk of serious complications from the flu and those close to immunocompromised individuals,

• Home helpers for those in the vulnerable groups above,

• Professionals exposed to swine and avian (bird) influenza viruses, to prevent the transmission of human influenza viruses to animals

People from both groups should receive their voucher in the coming weeks entitling them to a free vaccination, provided they are subscribed to Assurance Maladie and have a carte Vitale healthcard.

If you belong to one of these groups and do not receive a voucher, you can ask the health authorities to issue you with one, or talk to a GP, pharmacist, midwife etc who can issue you a voucher free of charge if you have proof of your condition.

Although health authorities should be aware of elderly patients and those with long-term illnesses, for certain new illnesses (or temporary situations such as pregnancies, etc) you may need to manually ask for the voucher to receive it.

You can read more on how to do that in our article here. 

You still need to make an appointment for the vaccine, and must present the voucher alongside your carte Vitale in order to benefit.

Otherwise, the vaccines can be bought at pharmacies and then administered by healthcare professionals, with the cost of the vaccine around €6 and the price of the vaccination depending on where you book an appointment.

In this case, both the vaccine and vaccination appointment are not reimbursed by social security. However, children aged 2-17 receive the vaccine at 65% coverage from Assurance Maladie.