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COVID-19 VACCINES

800,000 people in France could see health pass deactivated on Saturday

As France prepares for a major change to its health pass system, the health minister has warned that many people could see their pass deactivate on Saturday.

A passenger shows his health pass at the train station in France.
A passenger shows his health pass at the train station in France. Changes to booster dose requirements for over 18s on Saturday will see hundreds of thousands of people have their health passes deactivated. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

“We count 800,000 people who still need to get a booster dose to hold on to their health pass,” health minister Olivier Véran told a press conference – although he conceded that this figure was “probably overestimated” and “the upper limit”. 

On Saturday, January 15th new rules come into force meaning that everyone over the age of 18 who has not received a booster dose within seven months of completing a full Covid vaccination course (a double dose of AstraZeneca/Pfizer/Moderna vaccine) will have their health passes deactivated. 

These rules are already in place for people over the age of 65, while those who were vaccinated with the single-dose Janssen vaccine face a two month deadline to receive a booster before their health passes are deactivated.

The health pass is used in France to gain access to a wide range of public venues like restaurants, bars, museums, cinemas and some large outdoor events – excluding political rallies.

In order to keep their health passes active, people must upload either a vaccination certificate from their booster shot or – if they have recently had Covid – a positive test result to the Tous Anti Covid app.

A paper version of these documents can also be presented at health pass venues.

Véran said that the government does not have figures for the percentage of those who are using proof as recovery from Covid as a means to use the health pass and have received a booster dose – this is the apparent reason that there is some doubt over the true number of people who will see their health passes deactivated.

Currently, positive antigen or PCR tests that are between 11 days and six months old can be used instead of a vaccination certificate. Three months after testing positive for Covid, you are eligible to receive a booster shot. 

READ MORE Do I need a vaccine booster if I’ve already had Covid?

Tourists, visitors and people vaccinated outside France will also require a booster to be able to use the health pass. You can read more about that HERE

How will I know if my health pass will be deactivated? 

The easiest way to see if your health pass will be deactivated is to use the TousAntiCovid app – those who do so will receive an on-screen notification if their pass is set to expire. 

You can also double-check by clicking on the “Ouvrir mon carnet” or “Open my wallet” section of the app. If your pass is set to expire, your most recent in-app vaccination certificate will carry a yellow warning informing you of the deadline to get your booster dose. 

READ MORE When will my French health pass deactivate?

There is also an online simulator to tell you when your health pass will be deactivated – this is particularly useful for people who do not use the TousAntiCovid app.

After you receive a booster, your health pass does not update automatically. It is up to you to scan the QR code on the vaccination certificate into the TousAntiCovid app. If you do not use the app, you will need to carry paper vaccination certificates, including the booster vaccination certificate, to access public venues. 

If your health pass is deactivated, it is not the end of the world. 

It is possible to reactivate your health pass once you have had the booster dose. If you are over 65, you do not even need to book an appointment to receive your booster. You can simply walk into any vaccination site and you will be given priority treatment.

You can read our guide on how to get a booster dose HERE

After receiving your booster dose, you will get a new vaccination certificate and you simply scan this into TousAntiCovid to reactivate the app.

If you do not yet have a French carte vitale, ask at the vaccine centre for a paper copy of the certificate.

The reactivation of the health pass is supposed to be immediate (unless this is only your second shot, in which case you must wait seven days). But because of a computer error, a small minority of people who receive their booster dose may also have to wait seven days before the TousAntiCovid app recognises their new vaccination status. 

If this is the case for you, you can still show paper proof of your first two jabs and booster jab which will permit you access to any health pass venue.  

Further upcoming changes

February 15th, anyone over 18 will have to receive a booster dose within four months for their pass to remain active.

The French government is also pushing to introduce a vaccine pass which means a negative test result would no longer be accepted as a means to access venues where the health pass is currently applied. Full vaccination with a booster dose will be required to gain entry to these venues. 

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Member comments

  1. I had two Pfizer jabs plus a Moderna booster in France. But I lost the piece of paper with the reference number of my first two jabs. That means that the booster can not be added to my health pass. There is no way round this problem, apparently.

    1. When we received our jabs it was stressed to us the importance of holding on to those pieces of paper (we are not yet enrolled into the healthcare system here). I think if you do have photos of the documents that would help as it is the small print reference number on them that is important (if you cannot resolve the QR code).

      1. I know. I travel regularly between France and the UK. Somewhere along the way I seem to have misplaced it. Entirely my fault. But very odd that the whole digital process grinds to a halt if you don’t have a number on a bit of paper.

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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.

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. 

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