Vaccination and Vaccine Logistics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Find all our information on vaccination, vaccination logistics, and the role of Santé publique France in implementing the COVID-19 vaccination strategy during the pandemic.

In France, COVID-19 resulted in more than 245,000 hospitalizations and more than 62,000 deaths in 2020. To address the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in France and the more contagious variants that have emerged, a large-scale vaccination campaign began on December 27, 2020, for the general population, in accordance with the recommendations of the High Authority for Health, to which Santé publique France contributed. The national vaccination strategy was based on a principle of prioritizing target populations starting in the first quarter of 2021 according to various criteria (age, presence of risk factors for severe disease, living in group settings, occupations at risk of exposure or transmission). The main objectives of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy were to protect the most vulnerable populations, reduce mortality and severe cases, and protect healthcare workers and the healthcare system.

Monitoring Vaccination Coverage, Efficacy, and Impact

To monitor the progress of the vaccination campaign, Santé publique France developed vaccination coverage monitoring indicators to identify the percentage of people who have been vaccinated. Using the “Vaccin Covid” database, administered by the French Health Insurance system and updated by healthcare professionals administering the vaccines, Santé publique France was able to count, as of the day before, the number of people who had received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The availability of these new, reliable, and expert-reviewed indicators has significantly contributed to keeping the public well-informed and supporting the management of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the fight against the health crisis.
These indicators have been supplemented by ad hoc vaccination coverage studies.

Focus on vaccination monitoring indicators

Measuring and monitoring public uptake of vaccination

In the context of the health crisis, the issue of vaccination uptake was a key factor in the strategy for rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and was critical to the success of the vaccination program. Vaccination intentions were therefore studied and regularly measured through repeated surveys of the general public and healthcare professionals. These results were shared in the form of regular publications, available on our website.

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Vaccine procurement and distribution

Santé publique France operates a pharmaceutical facility under the supervision of a responsible pharmacist. At the request of the Minister of Health, we handle the procurement, importation, storage, transport, and distribution of products necessary to protect the population against serious health threats.

In the context of the pandemic, to address the spread of the coronavirus in France, the logistics associated with the COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in France on December 27, 2020, and were entrusted to Santé Publique France. The pharmaceutical agency thus organized the receipt, storage, and shipment of vaccines and medical devices—such as injection supplies (needles, syringes)—to the more than 20,000 pharmacies participating in the vaccination campaign, vaccination centers, and hospitals.

A dedicated customer service team for community pharmacists was established to answer pharmacists’ questions about deliveries and procedures; this team is trained to respond in real time via email or phone.

Distribution of vaccines and infrastructure

  • Launch of the vaccination campaign: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine enabled the first vaccinations to begin during Christmas 2020 following the installation of ultra-low-temperature freezers acquired by Santé publique France, and the vaccination of the two priority groups starting January 4, 2021: elderly residents of nursing homes (EHPAD) or long-term care facilities (USLD) and healthcare workers, before being joined by the Moderna vaccine at vaccination centers on January 12, 2021. 
  • Launch of community-based vaccination: Community-based vaccination began with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine starting February 7, 2021, followed by the Janssen vaccine starting April 18, 2021.
  • Start of community-based mRNA vaccination: Community-based mRNA vaccination began with the Moderna vaccine on May 23, 2021, followed by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine starting September 5, 2021. 

Deployment of resources for healthcare professionals, the general public, and vulnerable individuals

To ensure everyone has access to accurate information, Santé publique France has introduced new tools during the pandemic regarding COVID-19 vaccination for the benefit of as many people as possible, including healthcare professionals, vulnerable populations, and the general public.

Practical fact sheets to learn about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, the steps to follow to get vaccinated (coverage, scheduling appointments, the importance of two doses for protection). Highly accessible, illustrated, and translated into English, these guides take into account people’s ability to understand and apply the information to take care of their health, thereby helping to improve public awareness about COVID-19 vaccination.

These resources complement the “vaccination info service” website, which allows everyone to access comprehensive information on vaccination at all stages of life, with sections focused on specific diseases and links to reliable content. A section dedicated to COVID-19 vaccines was created during the pandemic, featuring regularly updated information on their characteristics, indications, and key recommendations from health authorities, as well as links to dedicated sections on the websites of the French Medicines Agency, the Ministry of Health, and others, along with a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.

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