Pharmacists Can Vaccinate Now, With Conditions, Ahead of Official Campaign Launch
French pharmacists are currently permitted to vaccinate individualsโค against flu and COVID-19 if those individuals present a valid vaccination voucher, despite the official national campaign not begining until October 14th. This allowance, communicated in a letter โdated October 3rd from Director General of Health, Professor Didier Lepelletier, to pharmacy representative organizations, is being framed as a โperiod of “tolerance” rather than a premature launch.
The key directive is simple: pharmacists who have received vaccine โdosesโค cannot โ refuse โvaccination to individuals with aโค voucher seeking immediate โprotection. However, active promotion of vaccinations before October 14th is prohibited โคto avoid conflicting โwith the plannedโ national rollout schedule.Pharmacies are expected to fulfill individual requests but refrain from organizing local campaigns.
This initial phase aims โto address immediateโค demand while health authorities prepare for a broader pushโ to improve vaccination rates.Public Healthโค Franceโ data reveals that while โ52% of at-risk individuals โreceived a flu vaccine in 2024, COVID-19 vaccination uptake was significantlyโค lower, with only 25% โคofโข those over 65 receiving an injection.โฃ
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the National Healthโ Insurance Fund โwill jointly announce the official campaign objectives at a press conference on October 7th. The DGS has explicitly stated its reliance on โpharmacies to drive increased vaccination coverage compared to last year, emphasizing โthe need for pharmacists to manage “on-demand” vaccinations now while โขpreparing for the anticipated surge in demand following the October 14th launch.