Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

COVID-19

Calendar: When do France’s new Covid measures come into force?

The French government has announced a number of new measures to fight against Covid-19. Here are the dates you need to know.

Published: 25 November 2021 17:03 CET
Updated: 27 November 2021 09:09 CET
Vaccine is drawn into a syringe. The French Health Minister has introduced new measures around booster doses, masks and schools. We have broken down the key dates.
France is introducing new measures around booster doses, masks and schools. We have broken down the key dates. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)

While appearing to rule out a lockdown or curfew over Christmas, the French government has introduced a raft of new measures to fight against the fifth wave, which is spreading at a “lightning” pace. 

Some will come into force in the coming days, others in the coming months. Here are the key dates you need to know: 

Friday, November 26th – Mandatory mask wearing 

Mask wearing will become mandatory in all indoor spaces – even those which ask for a valid health pass as a condition of entry.

READ ALSO Where to wear a face mask in France

Local préfectures are also able to make masks obligatory in outdoor markets and other open air events. The Health Minister emphasised that entry to Christmas markets will be conditional on possession of a valid health pass and the wearing of masks. 

Saturday, November 27th – Vaccine booster doses for over 18s

Everyone aged over 18 in France will become eligible for a booster dose, once five months has passed since their second dose. 

Some groups are already eligible for boosters including: over 65s; people with pre-existing medical conditions that put them at higher risk; health workers and domestic carers. 

READ ALSO France sets 7 month limit on Covid health pass and opens up booster jabs to all

If you have had a single dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, rather than one of the other recognised vaccines (AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna), then you can have a booster after one shot rather than two. 

Monday, November 29th – health pass tests valid for only 24 hours

People using negative Covid test results as a way to validate their health pass will now have to present a negative test result from within the past 24 hours – this window will shorten from 72 hours.  This will force non-vaccinated people to take tests more regularly if they wish to continue using the health pass. 

Monday, November 29th – Change to Covid rules in schools

Primary school classrooms will not close, even after a pupil has tested positive for Covid. When one student tests positive, the rest of the class will have to take tests to prove they are not infected. Those who test negative will be able to stay in class. 

Wednesday, December 15th – Booster shot required for over 65s for valid health pass validity

Over 65s will need a booster shoot if they are to keep a valid health pass. Past this date, if you are over 65 and have waited for more than seven months since your last dose but haven’t received a booster, then your health pass will be deactivated. 

READ ALSO Can tourists aged over 65 still use France’s health pass?

Helpfully, if you use the TousAntiCovid app on your phone, you will receive an alert notifying you when your personal booster dose deadline is. 

Saturday, January 15th – All over 18s must have a booster shot to retain valid health pass

Over 18s will face the same rules as over 65s from this date. Remember that if you have already been infected with Covid (and have some kind of proof), then this counts the same as a dose of AstraZeneca/Moderna/Pfizer vaccine. 

Early 2022 – Vaccination of children aged 5-11? 

The European Medicines Agency has already approved vaccinating children aged 5-11.

The French Health Minister said health and ethics authorities in France would consider whether or not to offer the vaccine to younger children in the coming weeks. There will not be any formal decision before the start of the new year. 

Member comments

  1. Has France set itself up to fail here? My second jab was at the end of May, so I have until the end of December to have the booster before my passe sanitaire is deactivated. Have you tried booking an appointments on line for a jab? All of the sites are either down or have a constant 30 minutes or more waiting time, which never seems to reduce. There must be millions of people whose passe sanitaire expires in the next few weeks, and who are trying to get the booster. Surely the system cannot cope with such a number?

      1. There is a wait for the doctolib website – I waited approximately 20 minutes last night – but when I could access it, I received a booster appointment within 48 hours, also a reminder by email and an SMS.

    2. I waited a while on Doctolib for about 40 minutes but was able to get an appointment for a couple of weeks from now.

  3. Please clarify information in this article that conflicts with the US Embassy website: For 65 and over, is it 7 months after the 2nd dose as stated in this article, or does the pass expire on December 15 regardless of date of dose as stated on the US Embassy website?
    From the Embassy website:
    “People age 65 and older must receive a booster dose by December 15, or their health pass will expire.
    People age 18-64 must receive a booster within seven (7) months after their second dose or their health pass will expire beginning January 15, 2022.”
    https://fr.usembassy.gov/health-alert-u-s-embassy-paris-france-11-26-2021/

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

COVID-19 VACCINES

How to get a Covid vaccine in France this October

France launched a new Covid vaccination campaign on Monday. Everyone is eligible for a booster dose, although it is specifically recommended for high-risk groups. Here's how to get your shot.

Published: 2 October 2023 10:21 CEST
How to get a Covid vaccine in France this October

Rising case numbers and the emergence of new variants pushed French health authorities to bring forward the new Covid vaccination campaign to October 2nd – it was initially scheduled to start on October 17th. 

While anyone can receive the vaccine, the Health Ministry is specifically recommending that the following groups to do so:

  • People over the age of 65;
  • People with co-morbidities;
  • Pregnant women;
  • Immunosuppressed people;
  • Care home residents or confined to a medical unit for long-term treatment;
  • Anyone who comes into regular contact with immunosuppressed people or people who a vulnerable to respiratory infections. 

French health authorities have indicated that they will prioritise the use of vaccines specifically adapted to the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant, which currently the main strain of the virus circulating in France. The main vaccine suited to tackling this sub-variant is the RNA Messenger vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, which also remains effective against other variants.

It is also possible to use Sanofi an Novavax vaccines, but Novavax will not have a vaccine adapted to the XBB.1.5 sub-variant until November.  

France is also launching a nationwide flu vaccination campaign later this month. You can read more about the necessary steps to get one here. 

How to get a Covid booster dose

Your GP (médecin traitant) should be able to give you a Covid booster on appointment. Pharmacy staff, nurses, dentists and midwives are also able to administer booster doses. If you want to receive a vaccine at the pharmacy, you should be able to set an appointment in the pharmacy itself or over the phone. 

The simplest way to book yourself for a booster dose (dose de rappel) is through the Doctolib website.  

READ MORE France’s autumn 2023 Covid vaccine booster campaign ‘will be open to all’

If you live in a care home or a special unit for people requiring long-term treatment, vaccination is organised on-site. 

The vaccination itself is free for anyone residing in France, even if you don’t yet have a carte vitale. If you do have a carte vitale however, you should bring it to your appointment.

When to receive a booster

The nationwide vaccination campaign began on October 2nd.

But you cannot get a booster if it has been less than 6 months since your last Covid infection (based on the date you tested positive) or your last vaccine shot. 

It is possible to receive a Covid vaccination and flu vaccination at the same time. If you wish to do so, you will need to wait until the flu vaccination campaign begins on October 17th. 

What about children? 

Children over the age of 5 are no longer recommended to have more than one vaccination against Covid-19. However, if your child has a comorbidity, such as asthma, you should consult with a medical professional to decide whether it could be worth getting a booster. 

For children under the age of five who have already had one vaccine dose or who have already been infected, it is still worth getting one more vaccine, according to French Health Authorities. For children under the age of five who have never received Covid vaccines or been infected, it is recommended that they get a total of three shots, with a 21-day gap between the first two, and an 8-week gap between the second and third. 

If you are in any doubt, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. 

SHOW COMMENTS