In Dijon, at the reception center for asylum seekers, the Red Cross has established its vaccination center there. Since its opening on July 24, patients have paraded, it’s a success.
“Little mistrust, but a lot of questions”
But before the center opened, we had to do prevention, to go to the meeting of these isolated populations. “It is essential to go to them. Let them know that they can have access to vaccination, which is sometimes not easy, and answer their questions, when they have it.“explains Christophe Talmet, director of the Red Cross delegation in Côte d’Or.
And the prevention campaign was carried out without a hitch. “They had a lot of questions, and now they’re here. It is a matter of public health, and of information as well. They had a lot of preconceived ideas that had to be deconstructed“continues Christophe Talmet.
“A chance”
Mahad, 28, from Somalia, just received her first dose. He didn’t know he could benefit from it as well and is delighted. “It’s fantastic to be able to get vaccinated, and especially for free. I am in a precarious situation, and I do not necessarily have the means to treat myself, so thank youhe said, examining his certificate.
Erika, 22, would probably not have taken the plunge, if the Red Cross had not reassured her. “JI now understand that it is important for me, my entourage and also to go to the restaurant or to the cinema! We must protect ourselves! “ she explains
Some small difficulties
The campaign may bear fruit, it is not without some small difficulties. “It’s not always easy, there’s the language barrier“confides the volunteer doctor François Arcos.”But that’s absolutely no big deal, we’re getting by, we have translators on our smartphones, but we’re getting there and it’s going very well!“he concludes.
Since the center opened on July 24, some 220 people were able to benefit from a dose of vaccine.
–
