Kick-off Tuesday for the new annual vaccination campaign against influenza and Covid-19

The annual vaccination campaign against seasonal flu and Covid-19 begins on Tuesday October 13. The "priority" of this 2026-2027 campaign remains to "protect the most fragile populations", the elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses or those who are immunocompromised or even pregnant women, recall the health authorities. The campaign will end at the end of January 2027.

This season, 15 million anti-flu doses will be available to doctors, pharmacists, nurses and midwives, around a million more than the previous season. There remain five vaccines, two of which are more recommended for seniors (Efluelda from Sanofi and Fluad from Seqirus). As for Covid, the vaccine remains reimbursed for everyone, even beyond the targeted audiences.

This fall, the French are encouraged to get vaccinated “as quickly as possible in October, because we do not know when the viruses will begin to circulate actively,” urged Grégory Emery. “For the moment, the circulation [of the flu] is moderate,” noted Etienne Pot, interim director general of SpF, on Thursday. In 2025-2026, the influenza epidemic was still very severe, with 12,700 deaths, and weighed heavily on hospitals, while Covid had only a small impact.

Reminders sent by Health Insurance

Covid, at the origin of an epidemic wave at the end of August-beginning of September "which decreases from year to year", "becomes a virus with a less significant evolution" but "circulates all year round", pointed out Etienne Pot. This year again, the health authorities have maintained the coupling of flu and Covid vaccinations, not considering it necessary to bring the latter forward.

Health Insurance, which sent the invitation vouchers to at-risk groups, will send reminders, by email and SMS, to unvaccinated people a few weeks after the start. Telephone advisors will also call 250,000 policyholders invited for the first time to be vaccinated and in a vulnerable situation, in particular beneficiaries of the Supplementary Solidarity Health Fund or people without a GP, said Catherine Grenier, medical advisor to the Cnam.

The "priority" of this 2026-2027 campaign remains to "protect the most fragile populations", the elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses or those who are immunocompromised or even pregnant women, recall the health authorities. An annual vaccination obligation is also being prepared for caregivers, with regulatory texts announced for the end of the first quarter of 2027.