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COVID-19 RULES

Covid rules and vaccine pass: What changes in France on Wednesday

This week in France there are two big Covid-related changes - the second phase in the relaxation of health rules and changes to the vaccine pass validity. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 15 February 2022 11:00 CET
Updated: 16 February 2022 08:36 CET
Covid rules and vaccine pass: What changes in France on Wednesday
Reports of "needle attacks" have caused concern in France. Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

It is a busy week in terms of changes to Covid policy in France, with Wednesday marking the latest phase in the gradual relaxation of the rules.

Here’s what changes;

Wednesday

  • Wider relaxation of Covid rules 

A number of Covid rules are being scrapped, which will be of huge relief to those working in the nightlife and cultural sector. 

Nightclubs will be open once again from Wednesday and cafés and bars will no longer be limited to table-service, meaning you will be able to drink at the bar and even have a boogie if you wish. 

Concerts and music gigs can also take place once again.

People will once again be allowed to eat in cinemas and sports grounds, as well as on trains and planes.

You can find the full calendar of upcoming changes HERE.

Several other changes have already come into force this week;

Monday

  • Vaccination centres told to show flexibility to unvaccinated

The health ministry sent a memo to vaccination centres on Monday, instructing them to allow people using fake health passes to wipe the record clean and initiate a real vaccination cycle. 

Up until Monday, people using fake passes had 30 days to inform a vaccination centre and receive their shots without facing legal consequences.

This 30 day limit no longer applies – and those working at vaccination sites no longer need to inform law enforcement authorities of people who were using fake passes. 

Tuesday

  • Vaccine pass rules change

Booster shots are now necessary for most people who want to hold a valid vaccine pass – which is required to use a wide range of venues including bars, cafés, ski lifts and tourist sites. 

Up until now, vaccine passes automatically deactivated if it has been more than seven months since your second dose and you have not yet received a booster shot. But on Tuesday, this time limit dropped to four months. Anyone who already had the booster is fine, even if their gap between second and third doses is more than four months.

READ ALSO Your questions answered about France’s new 4-month booster shot rule

Bear in mind that in certain circumstances, proof of previous infection from Covid means you would not have to receive a booster dose to carry on holding a valid vaccine pass. 

READ MORE If you’ve had Covid you may not need a booster for your vaccine pass

You can still use proof of recent recovery from Covid in lieu of being fully vaccinated as a condition to hold the health pass. But instead of lasting for six months, the validity of recent recovery drops to just four months on Tuesday. Remember that you can receive a booster once three months have passed since your infection. Full details on how to use recovery certificates HERE.

Finally, when the government introduced the vaccine pass, it offered an incentive to unvaccinated people to receive their first shot by saying that anyone who received their first dose between January 15th – February 15th would be able to use a negative Covid test to access vaccine pass venues. This exemption ends on Tuesday and now the vaccine pass requires everyone to have a full vaccination course, with seven days after the second dose.

  • Home-test kits withdrawn from supermarkets

Supermarkets are no longer able to sell Covid home-test kits (autotests) – you will now only be able to find these products in pharmacies. Over the New Year period, supermarkets were granted a license to sell these kits in order to allow for better  monitoring of the fifth wave. 

The maximum price of a Covid self-test is limited by the French government at €5.20, but many supermarkets were selling them for much cheaper prices.

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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.

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. 

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