COVID-19 vaccination began in France on December 27, 2020, in accordance with the vaccination strategy established by the Minister of Solidarity and Health, which aims to prioritize vaccination for those most at risk of developing severe forms of the disease. The list of target populations follows the vaccination recommendations issued by the High Authority for Health in its opinions of November 27, 2020, and February 2, 2021. Residents and staff of medical-social institutions (ESMS), excluding child welfare services (ASE), are thus among the priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination.

In parallel with the vaccination campaign, the number of people vaccinated and vaccination coverage are tracked using the Vaccin Covid information system, launched on January 4, 2021. This system is administered by the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) and updated by healthcare professionals administering the vaccinations. Thus, since January 27, 2021, estimates of the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in France have been derived from this data source.

Similarly, estimates of vaccination coverage for priority target populations, such as residents and staff working in nursing homes (Ehpad) or long-term care facilities (USLD), are generated via the Vaccin-Covid system. These estimates require validation due to the difficulty in identifying residents in nursing homes and staff vaccinated in nursing homes or long-term care facilities within this database. For this reason, Santé publique France is launching a vaccination coverage survey to compare the estimates produced with data transmitted directly by the nursing homes.

Survey Objectives

• To estimate COVID-19 vaccination coverage among staff and residents of nursing homes and other social care facilities (other housing for the elderly, housing for people with disabilities, other facilities for adults and vulnerable individuals (excluding child welfare facilities)).

• To estimate vaccination coverage by type of staff.

Survey Process

Santé Publique France is monitoring flu vaccination among residents and staff in nursing homes through an online questionnaire.

Long-term care facilities were asked to enter their data between June 7 and June 20, 2021.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign may not necessarily be completed by that date in all long-term care facilities; updates on COVID-19 vaccination coverage may be requested at a later date. If so, a notice will be issued accordingly.

Data Collected

The information collected is kept to a minimum. It pertains to residents and salaried staff at the facilities (healthcare professionals and other employees):

• the total number of residents and staff members at the facility,

• the number of residents and staff who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,

• the number of residents and staff members who are unvaccinated due to a history of COVID-19 (if known),

• and, if possible, these numbers by type of staff (e.g., nurses, nursing assistants, etc.).

Study Results

The data analyzed by Santé publique France were published in our national COVID-19 epidemiological update on July 22, 2021.