On 20 October 2009, France launched its vaccination campaign against the H1N1 influenza virus, commonly known as swine flu. At the time, the country had a population of 63 million people, and by the end of the campaign, 5,924,267 individuals had been vaccinated. The Court of Audit estimated the total cost of the campaign at 660 million euros, or about 111 euros per resident. However, this figure was significantly higher than the 510 million euros initially announced by the Ministry of Health. France had ordered 94 million doses of the vaccine in June 2009, even before finalizing its vaccination strategy. This over-ordering, combined with low public interest, resulted in only about 5.9 million people being vaccinated, or roughly 9.4% of the population. The World Health Organization had officially declared the H1N1 outbreak a pandemic on 11 June 2009. In response, the French government ordered 94 million doses from three laboratories, with additional doses from a fourth. However, the sheer volume of vaccines ordered far exceeded what could be effectively distributed. The Court of Audit noted that by May 2009, pharmaceutical companies had already begun to compete for vaccine access, leading to early negotiations with manufacturers before a clear vaccination strategy was in place. The campaign aimed to vaccinate 12 million students from kindergarten to high school as early as 25 November 2009. Despite the launch of vaccination centers and school-based programs, public participation was low. To boost turnout, the government opened vaccination centers on Sundays, extended hours, and mobilized military doctors and over 5,000 volunteers. An Inserm survey conducted in late November 2009 found that only 17% of adults were either vaccinated or planning to be, highlighting the low public adherence. The final count of vaccinated individuals, confirmed by the High Council for Public Health, was 5.74 million, with the exact number later adjusted to 5,924,267. The campaign’s high costs and low usage raised questions about the efficiency of the effort. The 660 million euro cost included expenses for vaccine distribution, but not all costs were accounted for, such as compensation for side effects like narcolepsy. France also negotiated rebates with manufacturers, totaling 48 million euros, and spent an additional 90 million euros on administrative costs. At the end of the campaign, 18.9 million vaccine doses remained unused, valued at over 150 million euros. Despite the large investment, only about 9.4% of the population was vaccinated, raising concerns about the mismatch between resources and public demand. Ultimately, the government canceled remaining orders in January 2010, with many doses going unused or donated internationally.