When will the autumn Covid vaccination campaign start in France?

The new Covid vaccination campaign will launch on October 17 and run alongside the usual seasonal flu campaign.

People over 65 and those at risk of developing severe forms of the disease will be eligible for a free booster at the same time as the flu jab (one in each arm).

This includes pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses or immunodeficiency.

You must wait six months since your last vaccination or infection. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be used.

If an epidemic resurgence is observed in the meantime, the date might be advanced.

Read more: Five questions on France’s new Covid vaccination campaign

Masks reinstated in some hospitals

There has been an increase in reported cases in every region, according to Santé publique France, but more so in the busy tourist regions of Ile-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

A +54% (107 individuals) increase in those under the age of 2, and +56% (426 individuals) rise in hospitalisations for those aged 15 - 74 for suspected cases of Covid were recorded in the week from August 14 – August 20, according to Santé Publique France.

A spike in Covid cases is also expected as children go back to school in September.

This is thought to be due to Eris (or EG.5), a subvariant of the Omicron strain.

Layné hospital in Mont-de-Marsan, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Arcachon hospital in Gironde recently reinstated the wearing of masks for patients, staff and visitors.

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