France is considering a fall vaccination push against covid, aiming to curb new epidemic waves while prioritizing those most likely to experience severe illness. The plan, still under discussion, envisions a targeted campaign rather than a blanket rollout, focusing on safeguarding the most vulnerable segments of the population.
The High Authority for Health (HAS), the official scientific advisory body, announced on Wednesday a proposal to vaccinate individuals aged 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems, and those with comorbidities that elevate the risk of severe covid outcomes. The emphasis remains on reducing hospitalizations and deaths among these groups as the virus continues to circulate. Healthcare workers are also under consideration for vaccination, with the aim of minimizing transmission to fragile patients by leveraging current evidence on the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing asymptomatic infection. This could serve as an additional precautionary measure to protect both patients and staff within clinical settings.
HAS bases these recommendations on a scenario in which the virus remains active and population immunity wanes over time, yet remains sufficiently protective against the most severe cases for the majority. In this view, epidemic activity could rebound, and a vaccination effort could play a crucial role in limiting mortality and severe disease. The agency notes that the campaign’s design would be guided by real-time data and the evolving epidemiological picture, prioritizing those at highest risk while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.
In a more cautious outlook, there is concern about the possible emergence of a new, more lethal variant that could erode immunity against severe forms of disease and spark a renewed wave of infections. Under such a scenario, scientific authorities would likely advocate a broad vaccination campaign that starts with high-risk groups but expands to prioritize the entire population as needed, always aiming to minimize deaths and severe illness while preserving health system capacity. The emphasis would be on a rapid, evidence-based response that aligns with the evolving threat and the population’s protective immunity level.
France has already endured a long and difficult toll from covid, with nearly 148,000 deaths attributed to the virus and a trend of infections showing a decline in recent weeks since the start of monitoring in March 2020. On average, daily case counts have hovered around the low tens of thousands, a metric that informs public health decisions while vaccination coverage continues to rise. The national vaccination effort has progressed to the administration of booster doses, with the second booster campaign expanding since last April to include all individuals aged 60 and over. This progression reflects a broader strategy to sustain protection in groups most at risk and to reinforce herd immunity where feasible, all while adapting to the virus’s unpredictable evolution. [Source: HAS briefing notes]
In parallel, health authorities emphasize the importance of maintaining high vaccination uptake among healthcare workers, recognizing their pivotal role in preventing nosocomial transmission and protecting vulnerable patients. The considerations around vaccinating this workforce are rooted in clinical data showing that vaccination reduces the risk of asymptomatic infection and, by extension, transmission potential in healthcare environments. The ongoing evaluation of vaccine effectiveness in real-world settings continues to shape policy decisions, ensuring that frontline staff remain protected as the virus circulates and new variants emerge. [Source: HAS briefing notes]