Rise in Covid-19 cases in France: when does the vaccination campaign begin, who is affected and where to receive the injection ?

La campagne de vaccination contre le Covid-19 débute le 15 octobre 2024 pour la métropole (photo d'illustration). Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

An intensification of the circulation of Covid-19 seems to have begun in France since September 2024. The vaccination campaign against this virus begins on October 15, 2024 for mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana.

An intensification of the circulation of Covid "seems to be beginning" in France, where all indicators are progressing, Public Health France observed on Wednesday, September 25, pointing to a more marked increase among seniors.

The increase is in fact driven by adults and more particularly those aged 65 and over, underlines the Health Insurance website.

According to the recommendations of the High Authority of Health, vaccination against Covid-19 is recommended each year in the fall for people at risk of severe disease, based on the model of the flu vaccination campaign.

This year, the campaign will begin on October 15, 2024 for mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana. It started on September 10, 2024 in Mayotte.

Who is concerned ?

People at highest risk of severe illness are strongly recommended to receive a dose of vaccine in the fall to maintain their immunity to the Covid-19 virus, according to the Health Insurance website. The following are concerned:

people aged 65 and over; people including infants from 6 months, children, adolescents and adults with comorbidities at higher risk of severe disease (complicated high blood pressure, heart, vascular, liver, kidney, lung problems, diabetes, obesity, cancers, transplant recipients, people with Down syndrome or psychiatric disorders or dementia); immunocompromised people; pregnant women; residents in residential care facilities for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) and long-term care units (USLD);
people at very high risk of severe disease according to each individual medical situation and as part of a decision shared with the care teams;
people living in the entourage or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people, including professionals in the health and medico-social sectors

The High Authority for Health has also recommended vaccination for students and professionals in the health sectors; students and professionals in the emergency and fire services (in particular professional and volunteer firefighters); professionals in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people.

Vaccination is 100% covered for everyone, including people who are not in the target group and wish to be vaccinated.

How many doses ?

Vaccination consists of a single dose of vaccine for people aged 5 and over, regardless of the patient's vaccination history.

Which vaccine ?

The Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty JN1 mRNA monovalent vaccine is available for the campaign vaccination 2024-2025.

The formulation of this vaccine has been adapted to the JN.1 variant of the virus, which is the variant circulating in the majority in the territory.

Who vaccinates against Covid ?

The health professionals authorized to vaccinate are doctors, nurses, pharmacists, midwives and medical or pharmacy students.