Concerned about the French
One Facebook user mistakenly linked COVID-19 vaccines to the declining number of babies in France and allegedly increased infant mortality.
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“That children are vaccinated in large quantities, everyone knows.
But after the major COVID vaccination campaign, the number of babies in France has dropped significantly. And their mortality up to 1 year has increased greatly.
But vaccine companies are not sleeping, they still need profit. So since they cannot push their goodness on newborns, they “reoriented to seniors,” writes the official press…
This is from the series – we will kill you anyway, if not sooner, then later (speech uncorrected – editor’s note) ”, she explained.
She supplemented her post with a article titled: “Due to the shortage of babies, the vaccine market is increasingly focusing on the elderly.”
The demographic crisis started earlier
Birth rates in France have indeed fallen, as in many other European countries. However, the internet user makes the incorrect conclusion that vaccines are to blame.
In 2025, for the first time since the end of World War II, more deaths than births were recorded in France. According to data from the national statistics institute INSEE, in 2025 there were 645,000 births and 651,000 deaths registered nationwide.
However, this trend has been observed for several years. World Bank Group data show a steady decline in birth rates: if from 2006-2015 the average fertility rate was 2 children per woman, it dropped to 1.9 in 2016 and to 1.6 in 2024.
Since mass vaccination against coronavirus in the European Union (EU) only began at the end of 2020, it is clear that the decline in birth rates started much earlier and has no correlation with vaccines.
France has long been an exception in Europe, as its birth rates exceeded those of many neighboring countries. In 2023, the fertility rate in France was 1.65 children per woman, the second highest in the EU, behind only Bulgaria (1.81).
Why is birth rate declining?
Demographers assess this trend cautiously and have no definitive answers. According to them, the declining birth rate may be related to the desire to have children later, economic insecurity, and changing lifestyle habits.
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“It could be postponing childbirth to a later time or a decline related to the economic situation – inflation is squeezing family budgets, so plans to have children are delayed. The international context also influences: war on Europe’s doorstep and growing ecological anxiety,” explained Sylvie le Minez, head of the demographic and social research division at INSEE.
An important factor is also the decrease in the number of women of fertile age (20-40 years) in the country. S. Le Minez notes that the largest decline in birth rates in France occurred back in the 1970s, after the so-called baby boom period ended and the oil crisis began. Although the average age of motherhood is steadily increasing, this does not necessarily mean a drastic reduction in the final number of children in a family, says S. Le Minez.
Lockdown and vaccines
Seasonality of birth rates was strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Nine months after the first strict lockdown (spring 2020), birth rates dropped. S. Le Minez explains that this was influenced not only by the separation of couples but also by the reduced number of new acquaintances. Gynecologist-obstetrician Olivier Picone adds that during the lockdown, assisted reproduction centers’ activities were temporarily suspended.
He emphasized that no vaccine has been studied as thoroughly as the COVID-19 vaccine, so even very rare phenomena are observed. A meta-analysis of 29 global studies confirmed that there is no scientific evidence of a link between vaccines and male or female infertility. On the contrary – it was found that COVID-19 infection itself can impair the quality of male sperm for up to three months after infection.
Infant mortality rates remain stable
Claims about increased infant mortality are also distorted. According to INSEE data, the infant mortality rate in France has fluctuated slightly in recent years: last year it was 3.8 per thousand, in 2024 – 3.9, and in 2022–2023 – 3.7. For comparison, in 2000–2001 this rate was much higher (4.4-4.5).
The data do not confirm that vaccines changed infant mortality – the rates remained very similar before the pandemic, during it, and after the introduction of vaccines, said public health expert Jessica Steier, debunking similar rumors spread in the USA.
She emphasizes that the risk to babies is increased not by vaccines but by mothers contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy. This doubles the likelihood of stillbirths or premature births.
Numerous studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and beneficial for pregnant women and their newborns.
15min verdict: lacks context. Birth rates in France are indeed declining, but this is a long-term demographic trend that started well before the pandemic. Scientific studies do not confirm any link between vaccination and decreased fertility or increased infant mortality.
Publication prepared by 15min in cooperation with Meta, aiming to stop the spread of misleading news on social media. More about the program and its rules – here.
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