Beyond the insufficient number of doses available, there is another figure from the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 that is causing concern in Seine-Saint-Denis.
In a department which is paying a heavy price for the epidemic, the difficulty of obtaining an appointment to receive the first injection is also explained by the fact that a significant part of these precious slots are used to vaccinate residents of the Ile-de-France region. in the rest of Ile-de-France.
It happens that the proportion of the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis among those vaccinated does not exceed a third in certain centers.
READ ALSO>
Vaccination in Seine-Saint-Denis: lack of doses, the new openings of centers postponed
The problem concerns in particular sites located not far from the borders of 93, but not only.
At the international college of Noisy-le-Grand, where the departmental council opened one of its two centers on January 18, more than half of the 50 daily vaccinations would benefit the Val-de-Marnais.
The finding is similar in Saint-Ouen.
This Wednesday morning, like every day since January 18, people over the age of 75 come and go in the Barbara village hall.
Upstairs, Hélène walks with a determined step in the corridor which leads her to the improvised vaccination center.
“I wouldn't want to be late,” she apologizes.
"We tried all the centers in Val-d'Oise, everything was sold out"
This 78-year-old retiree took almost an hour to reach the Barbara room from her home in Bois-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine).
Why Saint-Ouen?
“Because there was no room elsewhere,” she says.
There is indeed a center in Asnières but it is full.
"
Brigitte, whose husband Guy has an appointment that morning for his first injection, says the same thing.
The couple traveled from Franconville (Val-d'Oise), taking the A15.
“It's direct, in 25 minutes,” smiles Brigitte.
The two towns are however distant of fifteen kilometers.
“We tried all the centers in Val-d'Oise,” says the retiree.
From day one, I did Taverny, Argenteuil, Pontoise… Whether on Doctolib or Maiia, everything was full.
The only niche I have found is here.
"
According to Martin, 81 years old, it was Doctolib who advised him to make an appointment at the Barbara room.
"I was in front of my computer and I made all the districts of Paris in order to find a center, slips this American installed in the VIII E.
When I arrived in the 17th century, I was redirected to Saint-Ouen.
"
"It would be good if we had enough vaccines"
The situation worries Stéphane Troussel, the president (PS) of the departmental council.
"We are very happy to welcome and also vaccinate the inhabitants of Paris," he quipped, "but as we also suffer from strong inequalities, it would be good if we had enough vaccines.
"
Newsletter The essential of 93
A tour of current events in Seine-Saint-Denis and the IDF
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
As such, the president of the departmental council calls for a review of the methods for distributing doses.
"The distribution of vaccines is based on the number of people over 75 in the city that hosts the center, he believes.
As soon as an appointment can be made at any center, this criterion no longer makes sense.
"
Seine-Saint-Denis has around 80,000 inhabitants over 75, or 5% of its total population.
It is, with Val-d'Oise, the lowest percentage in Ile-de-France.
In addition to this relative youth in the department, according to Stéphane Troussel, there is the “digital divide, isolation and precariousness” from which many seniors suffer.
Why not a “departmental preference”?
This is why the elected representative pleads not to leave Doctolib and private actors the monopoly on vaccination registrations.
"Health inequalities are also found in the difficulties of making an appointment," he said.
This must be possible by telephone, with dedicated telephone platforms in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Actions must also be put in place to better inform the public and reach out more to it.
"
From there to instituting a "departmental preference" which would give priority access to the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis, there is a step that Stéphane Troussel does not take.
"It's a logic that I don't like," he reacts.
But whether it is the method or the registration procedures, more and better must be done so as not to leave our elderly people on the sidelines.
"
The president of the departmental council mentions in particular the putting into circulation of a vaccination bus or the mobilization of home help services. Ideas that he was able to present to Prime Minister Jean Castex and Minister of Health Olivier Véran on Monday when they came to the new premises of the Regional Health Agency in Saint-Denis.
