France Launches Flu and COVID Vaccination Campaign October 13

France will begin its combined seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with health authorities prioritizing older adults and other vulnerable populations. The nationwide initiative, scheduled to run through January 2027, follows a severe flu season last winter and renewed coronavirus activity in recent weeks, according to French health authorities and reports from Sud Ouest and 20 Minutes.

The campaign covers people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, immunocompromised people, and those who live with or care for vulnerable individuals. Healthcare workers in contact with at-risk patients are also among the priority groups. The French Health Ministry additionally recommends COVID-19 vaccination for people with psychiatric disorders, dementia, or Down syndrome.

Public Health France estimates that flu vaccination prevents more than 2,000 deaths annually out of approximately 10,000 associated with the disease. Authorities are seeking to improve vaccination coverage, which remains below the levels considered necessary to protect vulnerable groups.

Five vaccines are included in the 2026-2027 program. Flu vaccines include VaxigripTetra, Influvac Tetra, Efluelda, and Fluad, with the latter two particularly recommended for certain older age groups. For COVID-19, authorities recommend messenger RNA vaccines adapted to circulating variants, including the XFG variant.

Comirnaty, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, is among the recommended options. Healthcare professionals select vaccines according to current recommendations.

In France, COVID-19 vaccination is fully covered by national health insurance and remains free for everyone, including people outside the priority groups who wish to receive it. Flu vaccination is fully covered for eligible groups, while coverage for children aged 2 to 17 without underlying conditions is 65%. People outside the recommended groups who choose flu vaccination must pay the remaining cost themselves.

Doctors, midwives, nurses, and pharmacists can administer the vaccines. Approximately 15 million flu vaccine doses will be available to healthcare professionals this season, about one million more than in the previous campaign, according to Sud Ouest.

In Toulouse, the municipal government will offer free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations beginning October 13 at the Municipal Vaccination Center, located at 17 Place de la Daurade. Appointments are required and can be arranged through Doctolib or by contacting the center directly. Available appointments run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Toulouse municipality will also organize off-site vaccination sessions at the Papus seniors' restaurant and the Bellefontaine social center on October 20 and 21. The initiative expands access beyond the central vaccination facility.

French authorities are also examining whether future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns should begin earlier. Franceinfo reported on October 8 that Health Minister Stéphanie Rist had asked government medical advisers to assess a possible change, but no revised schedule had been officially adopted.

Public Health France recorded a 67% increase in adult emergency department visits for COVID-19 between September 14 and 20 compared with the previous week. Consultations with SOS Médecins for suspected COVID-19 also rose 26% in one week, according to 20 Minutes. The outlet reported increased SARS-CoV-2 circulation in communities, hospitals, and wastewater, while overall demand for medical care remained substantially below the level recorded a year earlier.

Epidemiologist Mircea Sofonea described the increase in infections as a new wave of COVID-19 in comments to France 3 Régions. He said the late-summer rebound had become common since 2020 and noted that the circulating subvariants belonged to previously known viral lineages and were associated with milder symptoms than those seen early in the pandemic.

The government is also preparing regulations that could introduce annual mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers. According to Sud Ouest, the regulatory texts are expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027. The proposal remains separate from the current seasonal vaccination campaign.