There was no dilemma, not even a question.
The questions, the doubts and the apprehensions around the AstraZeneca vaccine remained without effect on the “55 years”, who presented themselves to the centers of vaccination of Poissy and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, this weekend.
The two municipalities have been selected to administer, in the Yvelines department, vaccines without an appointment to people over 55 years of age in priority professions: cashiers, bakers, etc.
In fact, the professional aspect is secondary and only age is an essential criterion.
"However, we are showing a little bit of flexibility," said an agent of the town hall of Poissy mobilized this weekend, "Chez Mauricette", the first municipal vaccination center to have opened in France last January.
We come here without an appointment and the formalities are reduced to a minimum.
This Sunday is calm, far enough from Saturday attendance, where 80 people, including many teachers, on the eve of the start of the school year for the little ones, received the bite of the anti-Covid vaccine.
But the motivation is undoubtedly there.
"There are 20-year-olds in intensive care"
For Monique, the injection was a necessity.
“I am the manager of a hairdressing salon.
I see between 10 and 20 clients per day.
If I get sick, I can no longer work and earn a living.
I had to get vaccinated, ”confides this 54-year-old mother, whose 15-year-old apprentice was recently infected.
The teenager lost her smell and taste for a few days.
Since then, despite her young age, she has suffered bouts of fatigue.
“It's pretty impressive.
Variants affect everyone, there are 20-year-olds in intensive care.
I did not hesitate to get vaccinated, for myself but also for my loved ones, ”adds this professional, who sweeps away concerns related to AstraZeneca in a few seconds.
Poissy, Sunday.
"If I fall ill, I am not paid," says Monique, manager of a hairdressing salon.
Mehdi GHERDANE
In the large room that welcomes visitors, Oriana, the nurse, does not hide her irritation when we talk to her about fears related to the product of the Swedish-British group.
"All vaccines have undesirable effects," assures this dynamic thirty-something, who works as a liberal in this town of 40,000 inhabitants.
Thrombosis cases are not linked to this specifically.
Others know it and it doesn't make so much noise.
I'm afraid the damage is done.
Astrazeneca seems definitely shunned, we will not go back.
With these irrational fears, we will end up with a stock of vaccines on our hands!
"
Behind the curtain that separates the caregiver from the rest of the room, a small sheet is distributed to vaccinated people to encourage them to be vigilant.
In the event of breathing difficulties, abdominal pain or petechiae within twenty days of the first dose, the 15th should be contacted immediately.
Deconfinement and then travel
Frédéric took a distracted look at this paper and received the vaccine injection without fail.
For him, too, there was hardly any room for doubt.
“These exaggerated fears seem absurd to me, sweeps this entrepreneur who lives in Villennes-sur-Seine, a nearby town.
Me, I respect the instructions and barrier gestures but I have four children at home and they have a fairly rich social life, so the risk is always present.
"
This sportsman with pepper and salt hair did not hesitate this Sunday morning when he learned, by chance, the opening of this center to people of his age. “I was in the market and my wife taught me that it was possible to get vaccinated without an appointment. I came straight away. If the first dose should keep him from getting sick, he hopes it will allow him to travel this summer as well. Nothing is less certain: “I go regularly to Morocco. But this year, it may be complicated. We will stay in Europe. "
According to the Ministry of Health, 13,811,101 people received at least one injection (ie 20.6% of the total population and 26.3% of the adult population) and 5,385,052 people received two injections of the vaccine. People aged 50 to 54 should be vaccinated from mid-May. 18-49 year olds will be from mid-June according to the currently planned schedule.
