Covid-19: what rules of care?

Verified 05 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Several medical procedures, created during the Covid-19 health crisis, continue to apply.

An annual dose of the Covid vaccine is strongly recommended for the most vulnerable.

If you have the first signs of respiratory infections (fever or feeling of fever, cough) stay home and call your doctor.

If the signs worsen, with breathing difficulties and signs of choking, you should contact the Samu.

Specificities exist if you are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or aphasic.

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General case (15 or 112)

In case of emergency, when rapid intervention is needed, you must call the Samu.

Who shall I contact

  • Samu - 15

    For medical emergencies

    By phone

     15

    Free call from a landline and mobile in metropolitan France and overseas

    Operates 24/7

  • European emergency number - 112

     112

    Emergency number to use for a call from a European country or from a mobile phone

    24/7

    Free call

Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or aphasic (Emergency 114)

If you are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or aphasic, contact Emergency 114 notably via video, chat, SMS, images and French Sign Languages (FSL).

114 agents manage your alert in direct connection with the nearest emergency service.

To be able to quickly intervene, 114 needs:

  • Of your name
  • From your precise address
  • The reason for the appeal.
Who shall I contact

  • 114

    By the emergency mobile application 114 or the website www.urgence114.fr

    Accessible free 24/7

    Possible mode of communication:

    • Langue des signes française (LSF): I communicate in LSF, 114 answers me in LSF
    • Text / Voice: I communicate orally or in writing (video, chat), the 114 responds to me in writing
    • Aphasic: the 114 answers me by talking and/or using images

    By SMS at 114

    Accessible free 24/7

    Means to use last resort.

Teleconsultation is reimbursed by the Health Insurance 70% of conventional rate.

FYI  

In some cases, the refund is 100% (examples: teleconsultation in relation to a long-term condition, a maternity ward).

If you are positive for Covid-19, you need to several steps.

Warning  

Since 1er February 2023, the derogating mechanism which allowed to benefit from a work stoppage without waiting period has been deleted.

Since 1er March 2025However, self-tests and antigen tests are no longer covered by the Health Insurance.

PCRs remain supported at 60% on medical prescription.

Get tested

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General case

For an RT-PCR test, carried out on a nasopharyngeal sample by medical biology laboratories, the reference rate is €41.19. The so-called RT-PCR test is reserved as a priority to test people with symptoms, contact cases and caregivers.

For an antigen test, the price varies. Example: it is from €20 in the pharmacy.

Any insured person can request a screening examination or a test, without prior prescription.

The coverage by the Health Insurance is carried out with a moderator ticket. There is a balance to be paid for the insured.

FYI  

In the vast majority of cases, the user fee for Covid-19 tests is in full reimbursed by mutual or complementary health insurance.

It is also supported at 100% for beneficiaries of the complementary health solidarity.

However, the support is 100% for the following:

  • Insured persons aged 65 or over
  • Minors
  • Insured in ALD
  • Healthcare professionals or their employees
  • Staff of a health institution, social or medico-social institution or service
  • Persons concerned by collective screening campaigns, organized by the ARS: titleContent or a prefecture or within national education institutions

FYI  

Testing for persons coming to France temporarily and covered by a foreigners social security scheme is covered by the Health Insurance. For this, it is necessary to have a medical character.

In an EU or EEA state or in Switzerland

Only medical tests (presence of symptoms), on medical prescription, are covered by the Health Insurance when a necessary test must be performed immediately.

You have to present your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at the time the test is performed.

If you do not have your EHIC, the screening test will be covered by the Caisse d'Assurance Maladie upon your return to French territory. You must complete and send Form S 3125 Care received abroad to your CPAM: titleContent.

You choose on it in the section entitled "Care received in the EU/EEA/Switzerland" (to be completed obligatorily) either to be reimbursed according to the French pricing or according to the pricing of the country of stay.

The invoice for the test performed and the medical prescription or medical certificate must be attached to this form as proof.

Care received abroad - Declaration to be completed by the insured

Who shall I contact

In case of choice for reimbursement according to the French pricing, these screening tests are supported at 100% by the Health Insurance on the basis of a package of €35 (sampling and analysis costs).

In another country

Only medical, urgent and unannounced tests will be covered up to 27% the amount of the expenditure up to a maximum of €35.

To benefit from this care, you must complete the form S 3125 “care received abroad” and send it to your doctor. CPAM: titleContent. You must attach a medical prescription or medical certificate.

Care received abroad - Declaration to be completed by the insured

Who shall I contact

Self-Test

The self-test is a test to be carried out yourself, using a swab introduced into the nose.

It is reserved for people without symptoms for their personal use only.

For children aged 3 to 15, there are specific recommendations.

You can get a self-test at a pharmacy.

Its sale is forbidden on the internet.

He is free on presentation of proof for the following persons:

  • Professionals who work with seniors and people with disabilities
  • Students declared contact person at school, college or high school
  • National Education staff working in nursery, primary, middle and high schools (primary and secondary schools) and in the associated accommodation, reception and extracurricular services

The same applies to contacts with a complete vaccination schedule or under 12 years of age who do not wish to undergo a Covid-19 screening test (PCR or antigen). A document or statement of honor from the patient or his/her legal representative attesting to this status is required.

This person or student contact is entitled to a free self-test.

In other cases (for example, professionals working with the elderly or staff of the National Education), the pharmacy issues 10 self-tests per person per month.

The negative result of a self-test performed under the supervision of the pharmacist allows the delivery of the health pass.

FYI  

The selling price of a self-test cannot exceed €3.25. The maximum selling price of a self-test designed and intended for children is €5.20.

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You are already vaccinated

Who is affected by the annual dose of Covid vaccine?

To find out if you are affected by the annual dose and where to do it, you can consult the ministry of health page dedicated to this issue.

FYI  

In 2025, this campaign begins on October 14. In Mayotte, it starts on September 9.

This reminder campaign is highly recommended people most at risk of severe disease to receive a booster dose at autumn, in particular to:

  • Persons aged 65 years and over 
  • Immunocompromised persons (a person whose immune system is not working well and who is therefore more vulnerable to infection)
  • Pregnant women 
  • Residents in residential facilities for dependent elderly people (nursing homes) and long-term care units (LTCUs) 
  • People at very high risk of severe illness according to each individual medical situation and as part of a decision shared with the health care teams 
  • People living in close relationships or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people, including health and medico-social professionals
  • People (from 6 months of age) with comorbidities at higher risk of severe disease

Example :

Complicated high blood pressure, chronic heart, vascular, liver, kidney, lung diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancers, solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, people with Down syndrome 21, psychiatric disorders or dementia.

If you are not concerned by the target audience of this campaign, you can if you wish receive a reminder for free.

Vaccination is indeed managed at 100% for all.

FYI  

Flu and covid vaccines can be injected simultaneously.

If the 2 vaccines are not administered at the same time, there is no delay between the 2 vaccinations.

Who is affected by vaccination renewal in the spring?

For some people, an additional dose of vaccine is recommended in the spring.

FYI  

Anyone wishing to be vaccinated, even if they are not part of the target, can receive an injection against Covid-19.

Where to get vaccinated?

A simulator can be used to find a vaccination site:

Find a place for Covid-19 vaccination

What is the deadline for the booster after the last injection or infection?

The time between 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine or between a Covid-19 infection and one dose of vaccine is 6 months.

This period is reduced to 3 months since the last injection or infection, regardless of their age, for people 80 years and older and people Immunocompromised.

You have never received the vaccine

Vaccination is free of charge.

Vaccination is open to all adults without conditions and unless contraindicated.

Minors aged 12 to 17 years inclusive may be vaccinated with the authorization of persons with parental authority:

  • The 2 parents if they exercise it jointly unless it is impossible for one of the two parents to obtain the agreement of the other parent
  • Or the guardian.

Depending on your age and health status, different health professionals (vaccination center, nursing practice, attending physician, pharmacy, medical biology laboratories...) may vaccinate you.

A simulator allows you to find a vaccination site:

Find a place for Covid-19 vaccination

You must retrieve a certified vaccination certificate and one summary of vaccination.

Certified vaccination certificate serves as official proof of vaccination. It is now certified at european level to allow travel within the European Union.

The summary of vaccination contains the batch number of the injected vaccine. It may be useful in case of a reportable adverse reaction.

FYI  

For people aged 5 years and older, the dosage consists of a single dose of vaccine, regardless of vaccination history.

To find out if you are affected by the annual dose and where to get vaccinated, you can consult the ministry of health page dedicated to this issue.

However, if you are not in the target and want to receive a vaccination, you will be able to benefit from it for free.

FYI  

Since the October 15, 2024However, the 2 vaccination campaigns against Covid and against influenza are conducted at the same time.

You have a child aged 5 to 11 years

Your child aged 5 to 11 years can be vaccinated except those with contraindications (example: pediatric multi-systemic inflammatory syndrome).

The authorization of persons with parental authority is required:

  • Both parents if they exercise it jointly unless it is impossible for one of the two parents to obtain the agreement of the other parent
  • Or the guardian.

FYI  

For people aged 5 years and older, the dosage consists of a single dose of vaccine, regardless of vaccination history.

To find out if your child is affected by the annual dose and where to get vaccinated, you can consult the ministry of health page dedicated to this issue.

However, if your child is not in the target, they can still receive a free vaccination.

FYI  

Since the October 15, 2024However, the 2 vaccination campaigns against Covid and against influenza are conducted at the same time.

A simulator can be used to find a vaccination site:

Find a place for Covid-19 vaccination

You have a child aged 6 months to 4 years

Which children can be vaccinated?

To find out if your child is affected by the annual dose and where to do it, you can consult the ministry of health page dedicated to this issue.

Example :

A person (from 6 months) with comorbidities with a higher risk of severe disease is a priority.

FYI  

The 2 vaccination campaigns against Covid and against influenza are conducted at the same time.

What parental permission?

Your child can be vaccinated with the authorization:

  • Two parents if they exercise it jointly (unless it is impossible for one of the two parents to obtain the agreement of the other parent)
  • Or the guardian.
Where to get vaccinated?

A simulator can be used to find a vaccination site:

Find a place for Covid-19 vaccination

Minors, even if they have a Vitale card in their name, must present the Vitale card of one of their parents or a certificate of entitlement mentioning the social security number of one of their parents.

The following people can benefit from masks free of charge:

  • Vulnerable people who may develop severe COVID-19. They can buy masks in pharmacies on prescription.
  • People with the Covid-19 virus on presentation of the email or text message from the Health Insurance or the positive result of the RT-PCR test
  • Persons identified as contact case by the Health Insurance in treatment Contact covid

You are considered vulnerable if you are in one of the following situations:

  • Be 65 years of age or older
  • Cardiovascular history (CTD): Complicated hypertension (with cardiac, renal and vasculocerebral complications), stroke or coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac surgery, heart failure stage NYHA III or IV
  • Have unbalanced diabetes or complications
  • Have a chronic respiratory disease that can decompensate during a viral infection (obstructive pulmonary disease, severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, sleep apnea syndrome, cystic fibrosis in particular)
  • Have severe chronic kidney disease
  • Have active cancer on treatment (excluding hormone therapy)
  • Have obesity (body mass index > 30 kgm2)
  • Have cirrhosis at least stage B of Child Pugh score
  • Have major sickle cell syndrome or a history of splenectomy
  • Be at 3e trimester of pregnancy
  • Have motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, quadriplegia or hemiplegia, a primary malignant brain tumor, progressive cerebellar disease, or a rare disease
  • Having Down Syndrome 21

This is also the case if you have congenital or acquired, non-severe immunosuppression:

  • Medicinal products (anti-cancer chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy, biotherapy and/or immunosuppressive dose corticosteroids)
  • Uncontrolled HIV infection or with CD4 < 200/mm3
  • Following solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • Linked to hematological malignancy during treatment.

This is also the case if you are severely immunocompromised because you are in one of the following situations:

  • Have received an organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • On lymphopenic chemotherapy
  • Be treated with strong immunosuppressive drugs, such as antimetabolites (cellcept, myfortic, mycophenolate mofetil, imurel, azathioprine) and AntiCD20 (rituximab: Mabthera, Rixathon, Truxima)
  • On a case-by-case basis, if you are on another class of immunosuppressants or have a primary acquired immunodeficiency
  • Being on chronic dialysis

FYI  

as part of the work, masks are distributed to professionals in the health and medico-social sectors. Thus, a family caregiver or a home worker working with an elderly person or a person with a disability can have free masks in a pharmacy.

Free delivery of FFP2 type masks

Pharmacies dispensing free of charge, upon presentation of a medical prescription, FFP2-type masks for people at risk of severe forms of covid-19 and immunocompromised.

An immunocompromised person is someone whose immune system is not working well and is therefore more vulnerable to infection.

FAQ