Doctors concerned over low take-up of Covid and flu vaccines in France
Vulnerable groups are urged to get vaccinated as cases of flu reach epidemic levels
Flu jabs are down 8% compared to 2022 giving rise to fears of avoidable deaths
Dejan Dundjerski / Shutterstock
Doctors urge people in vulnerable groups to get vaccinated against Covid and flu to avoid pressure on hospitals with take-up rates for both judged to be too low.
Existing vaccines are considered effective against a new Covid variant JN.1, which made up 40% of reported Covid cases in mid-December in France and is deemed highly transmissible.
Read more: Alert over low take up for flu vaccination in France
Only a quarter of those eligible have had Covid booster
Covid infections are rising with GPs reporting 94,000 new cases from December 4 to 10.
A Covid booster at least six months after the last jab is recommended, particularly for over-65s, but only a quarter are up to date.
Flu jabs are down 8% compared to 2022 giving rise to fears of avoidable deaths, with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region now in an epidemic phase and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Ile-de-France, Occitanie, Hauts-de-France and Pays de la Loire in a pre-epidemic phase.
Read more: Flu now at epidemic level in France, south worst hit
You can have Covid and flu injections at the same time – one in each arm and there is no charge for at-risk groups, such as over 65s, pregnant women, people with heart and breathing-related disease and diabetes and care home residents.
You can be vaccinated at pharmacies or by doctors, nurses and midwives.
What if I am not at-risk and want a flu vaccination?
The vaccine can be purchased at pharmacies and costs between €6 and €12 depending on the brand. You can ask a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or midwife to administer the vaccination.
The price of a vaccination for people not targeted by the winter flu campaign is:
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