“Don’t you have a fever? A recent PCR test? ” So many questions that a doctor asks all those who have come to be vaccinated at the Salvation Army’s sharing house, in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
MSF left its suitcases there for three days. But his campaign in different places, in partnership with the Ile-de-France Regional Health Agency, should last at least all summer.
“I often get dizzy, but it’s because of the situation”, says Youssouf, a 25-year-old Ivorian, moved, to the doctor who takes his temperature. “I sleep on the floor, in the reception hall of my home and have to leave at 6.30 am in the morning”.
Like him, “300,000 people are accommodated every night” across France, indicates the Ministry of Health, which accounts “Between 10,000 and 20,000 people who are truly homeless, either in camps or wandering in our towns”.
At the height of the pandemic, the rates of contamination among this fragile public was particularly alarming.
“In two homes of migrant workers in Seine-Saint-Denis, the contamination rate was 89% and 54% in emergency accommodation centers”, recalls the head of the MSF France mission, Corinne Torre.
“Next week, 90 people will be vaccinated in a home for migrant workers at the request of the Yvelines ARS and 250 women in the day center in Paris”, predicts Corinne Torre.
For the past two weeks, MSF has already been raising awareness among the beneficiaries of the patrols and social structures frequented by migrants and the homeless, where 500 to 600 people have been approached. An essential approach according to Anne-Charlotte Schuhmacher, head of department of the Maison du Partage of the Salvation Army in the 19th arrondissement.
“I was warned at the Restos du Coeur”, says Fateh, 39, who came from Algiers in 2019. “We are two friends vaccinated here yesterday who told us it was good”, explains Mohamed, 30, alongside Shirullah, 35, two Afghans who arrived in France three years ago after a trek.
For a vaccine that requires two injections, bringing back those first-time recipients, however, is a challenge.
“We will come back to these structures a week before the second dose to see people again, but indeed we are not sure of seeing them all and we accept it, we also know that the first dose ensures correct vaccination coverage”, says Cristina Castro, Covid activity manager in Île-de-France for MSF.
Despite everything, on the spot, the few people questioned said they wanted to come back for their second injection, like Fateh: “I work in the markets and on construction sites, it is safer if I am vaccinated”.
To address this issue, 30,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine (single dose) from Johnson & Johnson are planned, says the Department of Health. However, it is reserved for over 55s, or “Homeless people are often under the age of 55”, notes Corinne Torre.
By Manel MENGUELTI
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