CALENDAR: Check to see you are up to date with vaccinations in France
The booster schedule for various diseases varies to that followed in the UK or US
The last mandatory vaccination in France is at age six, after which some vaccinations are ‘recommended’ but failure to comply does not result in a fine.Dejan Dundjerski / Shutterstock
All residents of France must be vaccinated against certain illnesses, however the vaccination calendar may be different from that in their country of origin for newcomers. We show when you need to get a vaccination or a booster, and where you can get one.
Childhood vaccination is mandatory for various illnesses, including against diphtheria tetanus and polio.
In theory, parents - or people with parental authority - who do not respect the vaccination calendar for their children are at risk of a €30,000 fine.
The last mandatory vaccination in France is at age six, after which some vaccinations are ‘recommended’ but failure to comply does not result in a fine.
However, most residents of France will not have their vaccination history reviewed unless they undergo an official obligatory health check in the context of a VLS – long-stay visa.
In cases where an individual’s vaccination history presents gaps (or is completely absent), the doctor will simply prescribe vaccinations.
If the doctor prescribed a vaccination, or if you are eligible for a recommended booster, it can be done:
At a GP’s office, and 70% reimbursed by social security
By a nurse and 60% reimbursed by social security
For free at a public health facility, such as a centre de santé, which you can find here.
In certain contexts, vaccinations or boosters may be given for free. This is the case during the government’s regular Covid-19 campaigns - the latest of which runs between April 15 and June 16, 2024.
