Covid-19 Cases Rise in France as New Vaccination Campaign Approaches

Respiratory care visits surge across all age groups in late September

Health surveillance networks tracking hospital admissions and general practice activity recorded a continuous rise in respiratory pathogen care seeking during the week of September 21 through September 27, 2026. Emergency department visits for respiratory complaints climbed to levels matching past seasonal trends, featuring a 22 percent jump in suspected Covid-19 cases in a single week, which accounts for 114 additional patient arrivals. Primary care networks reported similar upward trajectories. SOS Médecins recorded a 19 percent rise in consultations for suspected Covid-19 infections across all age brackets during the same weekly monitoring window, representing 173 additional medical acts. Adult consultations for influenza or influenza-like illnesses increased by 26 percent with 719 extra acts, while infant bronchiolite cases among children under one year old grew by 12 percent, adding 17 visits. Wastewater surveillance and healthcare utilization figures confirm that virus circulation is expanding progressively since the post-holiday return.

Upcoming vaccination campaigns target vulnerable populations and seasonal risks

Health authorities emphasize that vaccination remains effective for protecting against severe forms of the disease and reducing the risk of long Covid, maintaining recommendations focused on individuals at highest risk. The upcoming autumn vaccination campaign against Covid-19, which is coupled annually with the seasonal influenza campaign, is scheduled to launch on October 13, 2026. Exceptions apply to Mayotte, where vaccinations started in September, and La Réunion, where schedules align with the southern hemisphere. A mid-September report from Santé publique France noted that vaccination coverage against influenza remains insufficient among older adults, vulnerable populations, and healthcare workers despite ongoing official recommendations, a reluctance intensified by the earlier health crisis. Across Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported a slight increase in SARS-CoV-2 activity within primary care settings—including general practitioners and pharmacists—and a slight decrease in secondary care hospitals between September 19 and September 25, 2026, compared to the preceding week.