Health · Public Health & Disease · 15 hrs ago
France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13
France’s annual vaccination campaign against seasonal flu and COVID-19 starts on October 13 and is due to end in January 2027.
Health authorities are prioritising older people, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems.
About 15 million flu vaccine doses will be available to doctors, pharmacists, nurses and midwives, around one million more than last season.
COVID-19 vaccination remains reimbursed for everyone, including people outside the priority groups.
The campaign follows a severe flu season in 2025–2026 that caused 12,700 deaths and put heavy pressure on hospitals.
Health insurance officials will send reminders to people invited to get vaccinated, and staff will call 250,000 vulnerable people receiving an invitation for the first time.
Authorities also plan to introduce an annual vaccination requirement for healthcare workers, with regulations expected by the end of March 2027.
France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts on October 13.
The 2026-2027 campaign prioritizes protecting older people, people with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.
Fifteen million flu vaccine doses will be available to health professionals, about one million more than in the previous season.
Authorities are urging people to get vaccinated in October because it is not known when the viruses will begin circulating actively.
The campaign is scheduled to end in late January 2027.
- Who
- Health authorities are urging people to get vaccinated, with priority given to people at higher risk.
- What
- France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign is starting.
- When
- October 13, 2026; the campaign is due to end in late January 2027.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- To protect people most vulnerable to flu and COVID-19.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
as soon as possible in October, because we don't know when the viruses will begin circulating actively
For now, flu circulation is moderate
The annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins.
Health insurance plans to send email and text reminders to people at risk who have not been vaccinated.
The campaign is scheduled to end.
- Flu vaccine doses
- 15 million
- Start date
- October 13, 2026
- Campaign season
- 2026-2027
- Campaign end
- Late January 2027
- People receiving follow-up calls
- 250,000 invited insured people in vulnerable situations
Sources
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