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FIGURES HAVE FALLEN FOR THREE SUCCESSIVE YEARS, INCLUDING FOR OVER 65S France began its winter 2024-2025 flu vaccination campaign on Tuesday (October 15), with over 17 million people

eligible for a free vaccination.  This year the flu vaccination can be combined with a Covid-19 booster (these are free to all) and both injections can be given at the same appointment in

different arms. Read more: Covid and flu vaccination campaign starts in France - who is invited? It comes after three successive years of falling vaccination rates against the flu in France,

both for the 65+ category (all eligible for a free flu jab) and the general population.  Vaccination rates against the flu last year were more than 10% lower than recent highs: in

2008/2009, 58.7% of the general population were vaccinated and nearly 65% of over 65s.  In comparison, these figures were respectively 47.7% and 54% last year. In addition, only around 30%

of over 65s received a booster vaccination against Covid-19, according to public health body Santé publique. The largest recent high was in 2020/2021 (the first winter since the emergence of

Covid 19), when more people were vaccinated to prevent a ‘double-threat’ from both illnesses. In that year, nearly 60% of over 65s were vaccinated against the flu, figures not reached for

over a decade.