This new organization aims to improve vaccination coverage that had stagnated at 55.2% among people aged 65 and over.
Flu vaccination: one in three Americans is eligible
Since October 13, 2026, a simplified framework makes it easier for 20 million at‑risk individuals to access flu vaccination. The national health insurance issues a coverage voucher in place of a medical prescription, and privately practicing healthcare providers have doses stocked in their offices. The campaign targets insured individuals with a higher risk of flu complications. Those aged 65 and older are a priority, as well as pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart failure, those with a BMI of 40 or higher, and households caring for at‑risk infants are also among the beneficiaries. According to the Burgundy‑Franche‑Comté Regional Health Agency, this prioritization stems from the particularly intense 2025–2026 season, with more than 115,000 visits to emergency departments for influenza‑like illness, of which 20% led to hospitalization.
The national health insurance automatically identifies eligible people through its databases. If you meet the criteria but have not received your voucher, contact your primary health insurance fund. Healthcare professionals can also verify eligibility during a consultation. For non‑priority groups, the vaccine is available at pharmacies for 10 dollars, with no coverage.
A simplified new vaccination pathway “Flu-COVID-19”
The main innovation of this campaign is the elimination of the need for a medical prescription: the 100% coverage voucher serves as the medical order. This voucher, mailed to you, allows you to pick up the vaccine for free at the pharmacy. This simplification aims to remove a major barrier to vaccination identified during previous campaigns.
Three options are available to get vaccinated. First, pick up your vaccine at the pharmacy with your voucher, then see a nurse, a midwife, or your physician for the injection. Second: doctors, nurse practitioners, and licensed nurses can stock doses in their offices, saving you a trip to the pharmacy. Third: some pharmacies offer direct vaccination by a trained pharmacist.
You can receive both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. For this campaign, 15 million doses of the influenza vaccine and 10 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been ordered, ensuring supply through January 31, 2027. This co‑administration strategy optimizes protection against winter respiratory infections with a single visit.
Reminders so you don’t miss your vaccination
To offset unused vouchers, the health insurance system sends two reminders spaced three weeks apart by SMS or email to people who have not picked up their vaccine. The goal is to encourage vaccination before November, the period when the flu season typically begins in France. This approach draws on data from the 2025–2026 season, marked by 12,000 excess deaths of all causes.
For the 20 million targeted individuals, the vaccine is fully covered by health insurance, with no upfront cost. This gratuity covers only the vaccine itself; the injection is billed at standard rates, reimbursed by health insurance and private plans. Non-priority individuals can get vaccinated at pharmacies for about $10. The Burgundy‑Franche‑Comté Regional Health Agency reiterates the importance of mobilization to protect against winter respiratory infections, while the G155E mutation of the H1N1 virus draws attention this season.
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