Influenza vaccine coverage among population in France 2019-2021, by age

During the season 2020-2021, the influenza vaccine coverage among the French population aged under 65 reached nearly 39 percent, and among those aged 65 and over roughly 60 percent. The influenza vaccine is particularly recommended for certain categories of people who are likely to have a severe form of influenza and more fragile people such as people aged 65 and older. Compared to the previous season (2019-2020), the share of people who received a flu shot increased by 8.2 percent among those aged 65 and older.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory infection that can be caused by several types of influenza virus (A, B, or C). These viruses evolve, and each fall, the composition of the vaccine is adapted to the circulating viruses. Vaccination involves a single injection but must be renewed each year due to these changes in composition.