Doctor Marie-Christine Rossignol, President of the Order of Physicians of Tarn-et-Garonne takes stock of the Covid-19 vaccination.
How is your profession organized in the face of the continuous increase in the number of people infected with Covid-19 and patients in intensive care?
All health professionals are united. We have set up regular videoconferences to share our information between private and hospital doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, biologists, pharmacists. We are a force for advocacy and we are trying to take a scientific look at this pandemic. We hear that there is a shortage of doses, it is urgent that the authorities tell the truth and stop pitting professionals against each other, this posture is not respectful.
What do you think of the vaccination?
We have smart super vaccines at our disposal, it’s a huge opportunity. The fragile population is a priority, it is possible that the risk of phlebitis is increased with regard to their state of health, but the game is worth the candle and the benefit-risk balance is in favor of vaccination.
What organization to put in place for maximum efficiency?
We are caregivers. Despite all the boondoggles, our patients’ trust in us has not been altered, and our motivation remains intact. We want to be pragmatic, we are scientists and we know how to do medicine. Logistics must be delegated to professionals. Why not call on the army, local authorities, in particular communities of municipalities, to set up vaccination “super-centers” in addition to the six that already exist. We are ready to play our role of caregiver: retired doctors, nurses, students are volunteering to join us. The whole profession is motivated to succeed in this essential campaign. Today, the department has 6 vaccination centers, so far this seems sufficient given the number of doses we have. But we can hope that in April we will be able to immunize many more patients on a daily basis. The structures will then have to be adapted: larger, with parking, etc. hence the need for flawless logistics.
Are you a doctor, have you been vaccinated and how are you coping with this pandemic?
Yes, I am vaccinated like 70% of my colleagues. I would like to stress that teleconsultation has its limits, it is not “the whole” of the medicine of tomorrow, nothing better than face-to-face. Our colleagues in emergency medicine noted certain diagnostic delays linked to the absence of a real consultation. If today this practice has its interest, the clinical examination remains essential. We work in silence, tirelessly and for a year we have seen an increase in the degree of anxiety and fatigue in the profession, vaccination is really a hope. Unfortunately, we have lost patients and colleagues.
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