Key points

In infants

• The mandatory meningococcal ACWY vaccination program, implemented on January 1, 2025, for infants following an increase in cases of invasive meningococcal infections of types W and Y, has resulted in high vaccination coverage, with nearly 92% of infants born in 2025 having received the first dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Among children born in 2024, before the replacement of the meningococcal C vaccine with the ACWY vaccine, 82.4% had received at least one dose of the tetravalent ACWY meningococcal vaccine by the age of 21 months. This vaccination coverage is lower than that estimated in 2024 for meningococcal C. It should be noted that vaccination started with a monovalent C vaccine before January 1, 2025, in infants must be continued with a tetravalent ACWY vaccine.
• In 2025, the year mandatory vaccination against meningococcal B was implemented for infants up to age 2, vaccination coverage against these infections has increased significantly, with 74.9% of infants born in 2024 (aged 21 months) up to date with their vaccinations (compared to 64.5% in 2024).
• Vaccination coverage for other mandatory infant vaccinations is excellent, with levels close to the 95% target set by the World Health Organization. In particular, given the resurgence of measles virus circulation in France since 2024, it is important to note that only by achieving this 95% vaccination coverage target with a complete vaccination schedule can we halt the circulation of this highly contagious virus, which can lead to severe forms of the disease. The full vaccination schedule typically consists of two doses (or three doses if the first dose was received before 12 months of age).
• Systematic verification of vaccination status and updating of vaccinations are essential for children, adolescents, and young adults.

In adolescents and young adults

• During adolescence and early adulthood, there is a second peak in the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections (following the peak in infants) on the one hand, and a peak in pharyngeal carriage of meningococci on the other. Furthermore, while vaccination against group C meningococci has been successful, there has been an increase in the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections caused by groups W and Y. In this context, vaccination of adolescents is recommended between the ages of 11 and 14 and is accompanied by a catch-up vaccination policy for those aged 15–24.
• In 2025, only 24.7% of 11- to 14-year-olds and 13.1% of 15- to 24-year-olds had received a dose of this vaccine. Vaccination against meningococcal ACWY must be intensified in this age group. Integrating this vaccination into campaigns conducted in middle schools starting in 2026 will help accelerate protection for young people against these infections. Efforts to improve vaccination coverage must continue in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the circulation of meningococci in other age groups.
• Vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus infections continues to increase, with 65.6% of 16-year-old girls and 45.3% of 16-year-old boys having completed the full vaccination series. The gap in vaccination coverage between girls and boys continues to narrow. This very encouraging progress, along with vaccination campaigns in middle schools and the extension of the vaccination recommendation to young women up to age 26 by 2025, should make it possible to reach the 80% target set by the 10-year strategy to combat cancer in girls and boys by 2030.

Vaccination Uptake

According to the 2024 Santé publique France Barometer, vaccination uptake remains high in the region, particularly among young people, with 86% of 18- to 25-year-olds stating that they are generally in favor of vaccination.