For the Paris firefighters and their more than 500,000 annual interventions, it looks like a walk in the park.
While to catch up, France is setting up "massive" vaccination operations on weekends, the fire brigade is called upon and has just opened two first reception and injection centers this Saturday March 6.
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"
We set up the operation from Thursday evening, when the prefect of police asked us to participate in the vaccination effort.
“, Describes with serenity Lieutenant-Colonel Claire Boët, spokesperson for the brigade, in the Masséna barracks (13th arrondissement), which welcomes the elderly and at risk to administer the Pfizer vaccine.
In the gymnasium, tents are set up for each step in the patient's journey: questionnaire, quick consultation, injection and finally a moment of observation of a few minutes, before being able to set off again.
The eligible population is those over 75 years old, EHPAD staff aged 50 and over or at "very high risk", and residents aged 60 and over in migrant workers' homes, specifies a brochure containing the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
"
Military excellence
" in the service of vaccinations
The Paris firefighters form an engineering unit of the Army, founded in 1811 and placed under the authority of the prefect of police since then.
"
It is military excellence which allows this rapid deployment of vaccination operations
", underlines the prefect of police Didier Lallement from the barracks, where he is also attending the launch of operations this Saturday morning.
The other site concerned is that of Champerret (17th arrondissement).
The two sites will carry out around 500 injections for this first weekend.
While the prefect of the Île-de-France region Marc Guillaume, also present with the director of the Regional Health Agency, lists 51,000 additional doses delivered for this weekend in the 105 centers in Ile-de-France, the firefighters could see their efforts increase.
To the point of encroaching on their usual interventions?
General Jean-Marie Gontier, who commands the Paris firefighters, is not worried: "
we are capable of managing the exceptional
", he assures the
Figaro
, and "
the activity in connection with the Covid represents currently 5 to 6% of our intervention time
, ”he puts into perspective, showing that the bicentennial machine is taking the exercise without flinching.
To read also: Covid-19: Castex wants to "put the package" on vaccination, facing a variant that could lead "to reconfine"
It is true that the course of the vaccination is striking for its common sense, its simplicity and its effectiveness.
On their chairs, couples or single people wait, their “
questionnaire
” in hand, before being called for a short consultation and to proceed with the injection.
Edith says she is "
happy
", but believes herself "
in the USSR
" in this gymnasium and in front of these rudimentary installations.
The barracks being large, she had to walk "
a little too much
" to get into the room.
Her neighbor Colette is satisfied with the organization and "
all these firefighters
", and is also amazed by the Doctolib platform on which the BSPP has opened the reservation slots: "
they are a company, it is the initiative. private ... so it works!
"
A man comes in for consultation with a firefighter.
LAL
In addition to the firefighters who manage the flow, doctors and nurses also belong to the brigade.
Vaccines are stored in a medical refrigerator.
“
The brigade has its own chief pharmacist and has the necessary equipment to store and distribute the vaccine,
” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Claire Boët.
The staff present are busy but relaxed, cheering up the sometimes worried elderly.
After the injection, a couple hold hands as they leave and are delighted to have had "
the vaccine, a photo and the coffee
" in the company of the authorities present for the launch.
"
Everything is quiet,
" they conclude, delighted with this visit to the Paris firefighters.