Overview

• Health Minister Yannick Neuder has announced mandatory ACWY vaccination for all children under two and expanded catch-up campaigns for under-five and 15–24 year-olds.
• France has recorded over 600 meningococcal cases in 2025, the highest annual figure since 2010, with severe disease outcomes and fatalities reported.
• Emerging meningococcal strains A, Y, and W, particularly deadly, have largely replaced strain C, while strain B remains the most prevalent.
• New vaccination measures include college-based ACWY boosters and strain B vaccine availability for 15–24 year-olds, exceeding prior health authority recommendations.
• The government’s response follows a severe flu season that weakened immunity, with vaccination efforts aimed at mitigating meningitis risks across vulnerable populations.