France Reports Moderate 30% Effectiveness for 2025-2026 Flu Vaccine
Public health officials in France have released the annual report on acute respiratory infections, revealing that the influenza vaccine provided “moderate” protection during the 2025-2026 winter season. According to Santé publique France (SPF), the real-world effectiveness of the vaccination against symptomatic flu across all age groups was estimated at 30%.
The data, produced by the national reference center (CNR) using information from the Relab network of community laboratories, specifically highlights a 30% effectiveness rate against type A viruses. SPF noted that these results are comparable to the estimations seen during the 2024-2025 season. This level of efficacy underscores the ongoing challenge of matching vaccines to circulating viral strains to optimize public health outcomes.
The most recent epidemic lasted 10 weeks, spanning from December 2025 to mid-February 2026. Health officials confirmed that the outbreak was “carried exclusively by type A viruses.”
Despite the moderate effectiveness, France saw a notable increase in vaccine uptake. The vaccination campaign, which ran from mid-October 2025 through the conclude of February 2026, achieved a coverage rate of nearly 50% among all targeted high-risk individuals. Specifically, coverage reached 56.7% for those aged 65 and older, and 28.9% for those under 65 who are at risk of severe influenza. These figures represent increases of 3.1, 3, and 3.6 percentage points, respectively, over the previous season—a trend SPF observed for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead to the next cycle, the Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS) has confirmed a change in procurement timelines. To ensure stable vaccine coverage, the pre-order period for the 2026-2027 seasonal flu vaccines has been extended by one month. Pharmacists now have until April 30, rather than the previous March 31 deadline, to place their orders. The DGS has urged pharmacists to increase their pre-ordered volumes to secure adequate supply for the upcoming season.
