When, where and how to get the flu vaccine in France in 2026

The vaccination vouchers are sent to those deemed as most vulnerable to contracting la grippe (flu) as France gears up for its annual flu season, which, according to l’Assurance Maladie, usually occurs between October and March. 

But if you don’t get one, you can still get vaccinated.

Who can get a flu vaccine?

Anyone who wants a flu vaccine can get one starting from October, when a wider public information campaign is usually launched.

If you’re in one of the groups below and you’ve already received your voucher, you can book your vaccination straight away – the vaccine doesn’t lose effectiveness by getting it early. 

• Anyone age 65 and older
• Pregnant women, regardless of the stage of pregnancy.
• Families of infants under 6 months of age who are at risk of severe influenza (e.g., premature babies, children with congenital heart disease, congenital immune deficiency, lung, neurological or neuromuscular disorders, or a long-term illness)
• People who are obese, with a BMI of 40 or above.
• People living in a care facility or nursing home, regardless of their age.
• People in close contact with immunocompromised individuals (e.g. home help assistants and healthcare professionals)
• People with health conditions that make them at risk for developing a severe form of the virus. You can find the full list here.
• Professionals exposed to swine and avian influenza viruses, to prevent transmission of human influenza viruses to animals. This is a collective protective measure against swine and avian viruses, and vaccination against human influenza can slow down its spread.
• Flight and cruise-ship crew, and travel industry staff who accompany groups of travellers.

Note: a voucher isn’t automatically mailed to pregnant women, people who are obese with a BMI of 40 or above, or the household of an at-risk infant under 6 months – it has to be requested from a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or a midwife.

What if I didn’t get a voucher?

Vouchers are usually issued through September and October, depending on the region. If you fall into one of the high risk groups as outlined above and you don’t receive one, you can visit your doctor and ask them to issue you with one.

If you’re not in a high risk group, you can still get the vaccine – but you will have to pay for it.

You can book a vaccination appointment without the voucher, although some providers set aside a few weeks for high-risk groups first, and then open up to everyone. The appointment season for people without a voucher usually opens in mid October, with the exact date still TBC.

Where?

Doctors, midwives, nurses, and pharmacists can all deliver flu shots in France, with the pharmacy being a common and convenient place to be vaccinated, as many allow walk-in appointments.

What about children?

The French Haute autorité de santé recommends that children with a chronic health condition (such as asthma, congenital heart disease, diabetes or a neurological or muscular disorder) get a seasonal influenza vaccine from as young as 6 months old, and children who fall into this category will receive a vaccination voucher.

Separately, the vaccine can also be offered to healthy children aged 2 to 17 with no underlying chronic condition, though this is a weaker recommendation: they don’t receive a mailed voucher, and the vaccine is only reimbursed at 65 percent rather than 100 percent.

As for who can vaccinate them, doctors are qualified to vaccinate all minors, including those under the age of 11. Midwives can also vaccinate any minor who is recommended to get a flu vaccine.

In August 2023, both nurses and pharmacists in France gained the ability to prescribe and administer 14 different vaccines – including the one against seasonal influenza – to anyone over the age of 11. As such, minors above 11 can get a flu vaccine in a pharmacy, but those under the age of 11 cannot.

How much?

For high-risk people, the flu vaccine is free of charge. These groups will receive a flu vaccine voucher and this can be taken to the pharmacist, who will then provide a vaccine free of charge.

If you lose the voucher, a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or midwife can issue you a new one.

People receiving the AME (l’aide médicale de l’État – France’s state medical aid scheme for undocumented residents who don’t qualify for standard health insurance) who are also eligible for flu vaccination because of their age or health get 100 percent coverage of both the vaccine and the injection.

Others

If you’re not in one of the high-risk groups outlined above, you can still get the flu vaccine, but you will have to pay for it.

The price of the shot varies from €6 to €10 depending on the pharmacy.

This cost is not reimbursed on the carte vitale. If you want your doctor to administer it, you will also have to pay the standard appointment fee.

Covid boosters

Since 2023, French health authorities have recommended that at-risk groups get an annual Covid-19 booster.

Immunocompromised individuals and those over 80 can get a Covid-19 booster just three months after their last vaccination or infection.

For all others, the wait time is six months.

This can be done at the same time as the flu shot, with one vaccine in each arm, though French health authorities note this should be assessed with the health professional giving the vaccination.

The Covid-19 vaccine remains free of charge for those registered with French social security.

This year’s Covid vaccine has been updated to target the XFG variant, approved by EU regulators in July 2026. As of late August, France was still finalising the rollout of this new version, so the previous formulation may still be in use for now.