France’s flu vaccination campaign has been extended to the end of February, giving people more time to receive their jab and increase protection against severe forms of the virus, authorities have confirmed.
The 2025-2026 flu vaccination campaign began in France on October 14, and had been set to finish on January 31. It will now continue until February 28.
The decision comes because, as of mid-January, seasonal flu had reached epidemic level in “all French regions” of mainland France, said la Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS) in a statement on January 27.
The health authority also noted that more children had been using “flu-related healthcare services” since the start of January, and this “resurgence in the youngest” members of society could spread the virus and in turn “lead to an increase in consultations and hospitalisations among adults”.
There is currently a “high” level of uncertainty around how seasonal flu will spread in the next few weeks, shows modelling from l’Institut Pasteur and public health body Santé publique France (SPF).
Neither authority has ruled out a rebound in cases in the near future, although predictions do suggest a slight “decrease in the use of healthcare for influenza over the next four weeks”, they said.
Vaccination is considered one of the best forms of protection against severe forms of flu (and Covid-19), which can be particularly dangerous and life-threatening for vulnerable people (see the list below).
Vaccination urged even more than usual this year
Vaccination is recommended for anyone who is able to have it, because widespread coverage not only protects the vaccinated person but also those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons.
It also protects hospitals, because they can quickly become overwhelmed if there are too many people admitted with flu or Covid complications. This can then cause delays to all forms of healthcare.
This year, vaccination is urged more than usual, because health authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s particularly severe flu season, which killed 17,600 people in France, a much higher toll than the 10,000 killed in an average year.
Caroline Semaille, SPF director general, told the AFP earlier this month that many people who were vaccinated in France last year did so “too late”, leading to a “severe” and “longer-than-average” epidemic.
This year, there has also been a rise in a so-called ‘super flu’ strain, called ‘subclade K’. This strain of the virus mutated in the southern hemisphere earlier this year, and made its way to the northern hemisphere before the onset of winter.
It is a variation of flu type A, one of the four main flu variants, although dozens of sub-types exist and spread concurrently during the flu season.
Several countries, including France, the UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan, have all experienced a rise in flu cases in recent weeks, caused by subclade K becoming active at the start of winter.
This strain is more contagious, with one person with the strain able to infect around four people, as opposed to the two or three usually infected by someone with a more ‘normal’ strain, said the head of infectious diseases at CHU Orléans, Dr Thierry Prazuck, to media outlet BFMTV in December.
Who should get vaccinated?
Anyone in a vulnerable group at risk of developing a severe form of illness is urged to get both vaccinations, Assurance Maladie said to the AFP. This includes:
People aged 65 and over
Pregnant women
Immunodepressed people
People undergoing treatment for cancer
People with other chronic conditions including high blood pressure, or diabetes
People who work with any of the above are also included, as are residents and workers in elderly care homes (Ehpad).
In addition, those with mental health conditions, dementia, and Down syndrome are particularly urged to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as well as flu, said the Assurance Maladie.
Children aged 2-18 are also recommended to be vaccinated.
How do I get a vaccine and how much is it?
Those in vulnerable groups can receive both vaccinations for free (100% reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie). These people should have received a letter with a voucher (‘bon de prise en charge’) entitling them to free vaccination.
Once you have a voucher or prescription, you can take it to your doctor, midwife, nurse, or pharmacist and receive one or both vaccines.
Anyone who has not received this in a letter to their home but believes they should be entitled to free vaccination can ask for a voucher from their doctor, midwife, nurse, or pharmacist. You can read more on how to do that here.
Those not considered to be in a vulnerable group can get the flu vaccine reimbursed up to 65%, and the Covid vaccine for free (also from a doctor, midwife, nurse, or pharmacist).
Otherwise, the vaccines can be bought at pharmacies and then administered by healthcare professionals. The cost of the vaccine is around €6, and the price of the vaccination depends on where you book an appointment. In this case, neither the vaccine nor vaccination appointment are reimbursed.
