Reader question: Can you get a Covid vaccine in France without a carte vitale?
As France rolls out its Covid-19 vaccination campaign to more groups, what is the situation for foreigners who are not yet registered in the French health system?
Question: I live in France but I don't yet have my carte vitale, does this mean I can't get the Covid vaccine, despite being in an eligible group?
When French politicians talk about vaccine groups they tend to say things like tous les Français âgés de plus de 55 ans (all French people over the age of 55) - but foreigners in France shouldn't panic about this, it's really just a figure of speech.
We contacted the French health ministry, who told us: "Everyone residing in France will be invited to get vaccinated according to the prioritisation of groups as outlined in the vaccination campaign."
So there's no problem for foreign residents in France.
You can find the list of eligible groups HERE.
The health ministry also confirmed to The Local that this covers even residents who do not yet have a carte vitale.
Everyone living in France should register with the French health system to get the card the gives you access to refunded healthcare, but the process of registering is quite a long one (up to six months in some areas).
READ ALSO How to get a carte vitale and why you need one
"Seeing as this is a public health issue, unregistered people as well as those in precarious situations [such as the homeless] can get vaccinated for free," the health ministry said, referring to a government decree published on December 31st.
Everyone residing in France can get the vaccine for free, even if they aren't registered in the French state health system. This does not include tourists or second home owners.
A directive from the Direction Générale de la Santé clarifies: "As of January 28th 2021, a foreigner will be able to be vaccinated in a vaccination centre even if he or she does not have a carte vitale. From this date, the Covid-19 Vaccination information system will be able to track the vaccination of foreigners who do not have a carte vitale."
What kind of documents should I bring?
Vaccine centres, GPs and pharmacies will ask for your carte vitale as a matter of routine, so if you don't have one you will need to explain your situation.
Several readers of The Local have told us that not having a carte vitale caused a certain amount of confusion at the their local vaccine centre, because it is an unusual situation, but all of them received it in the end, one person after showing the French government decree linked to in this article.
There is no official list of documents to bring, however we would advise non-EU residents to bring either a carte de séjour, the receipt acknowledging their application for a carte de séjour or utility bills or other proof of address.
EU citizens would to wise to bring their passports and a proof of address.
You could also print out the government decree linked to in this article to provide proof that you are entitled to a vaccine.
Everyone - French or not - needs to take ID with them when they go to the vaccine centre.
If you have already received a temporary social security number while your application for a carte vitale is being processed, you can use that.
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Question: I live in France but I don't yet have my carte vitale, does this mean I can't get the Covid vaccine, despite being in an eligible group?
When French politicians talk about vaccine groups they tend to say things like tous les Français âgés de plus de 55 ans (all French people over the age of 55) - but foreigners in France shouldn't panic about this, it's really just a figure of speech.
We contacted the French health ministry, who told us: "Everyone residing in France will be invited to get vaccinated according to the prioritisation of groups as outlined in the vaccination campaign."
So there's no problem for foreign residents in France.
You can find the list of eligible groups HERE.
The health ministry also confirmed to The Local that this covers even residents who do not yet have a carte vitale.
Everyone living in France should register with the French health system to get the card the gives you access to refunded healthcare, but the process of registering is quite a long one (up to six months in some areas).
READ ALSO How to get a carte vitale and why you need one
"Seeing as this is a public health issue, unregistered people as well as those in precarious situations [such as the homeless] can get vaccinated for free," the health ministry said, referring to a government decree published on December 31st.
Everyone residing in France can get the vaccine for free, even if they aren't registered in the French state health system. This does not include tourists or second home owners.
A directive from the Direction Générale de la Santé clarifies: "As of January 28th 2021, a foreigner will be able to be vaccinated in a vaccination centre even if he or she does not have a carte vitale. From this date, the Covid-19 Vaccination information system will be able to track the vaccination of foreigners who do not have a carte vitale."
What kind of documents should I bring?
Vaccine centres, GPs and pharmacies will ask for your carte vitale as a matter of routine, so if you don't have one you will need to explain your situation.
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