- Title: France's Doctors Without Borders vaccinate migrants, homeless in COVID fight
- Date: 27th August 2021
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 26, 2021) (REUTERS) FRANCE'S DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF) POP-UP VACCINATION CENTRE TENT FOR MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND HOMELESS MAN ROLLING UP SLEEVE MAN GETTING INJECTED VACCINATION CENTRE WITH PEOPLE QUEUING PEOPLE QUEUING SIGN READING (French): "DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS" (SOUNDBITE) (French) MSF DOCTOR, BRICE DAVERTON, SAYING: "There are quite a few obstacles stopping them from going to the normal vaccination centres, in part because currently, we have to have access to the Internet to book an appointment online, so you have to have access to the Internet, or have a phone. You also have to speak French, and for some migrants, that's difficult. There are also those who think that if they don't have social security, they won't be able to get vaccinated, when in principle, they can, even without social security. We also have those who are a bit concerned about their administrative status, and because of that, they're afraid to go to vaccination centres." AMBLETEUSE, FRANCE (RECENT - AUGUST 4, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS DURING POLICE CHECKS PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 26, 2021) (REUTERS) MIGRANT FROM AFGHANISTAN, ALI GUL SAHIL, WALKING INTO VACCINATION TENT SAHIL LOOKING ON SAHIL GETTING INJECTED (SOUNDBITE) (French) ASYLUM SEEKER FROM AFGHANISTAN, ALI GUL SAHIL, SAYING: "There are problems when you don't have the social security card, you can't get the vaccine. But here, it's fine for everybody, for refugees, asylum seekers, people without papers, it's fine here." STAFF SPEAKING TO MAN MAN LOOKING ON STAFF SPEAKING TO MAN (SOUNDBITE) (French) ASYLUM SEEKER FROM AFGHANISTAN, ALI GUL SAHIL, SAYING: "There are lots of problems in France when you are not vaccinated, you can't go to the shops, the restaurants, it's like that. When I went to the shops, and I don't have two doses of the vaccine, I cannot go and buy things." STAFF MANAGING QUEUE MAN LOOKING ON MEDICAL PAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MSF DOCTOR, BRICE DAVERTON, SAYING: "We remain vigilant when it comes to the health pass, because we are trying to be careful to make sure it's not posing new obstacles for people, as people in positions of insecurity need to be able to go to cafes, for example, need to be able to travel, so we're remaining vigilant with regards to the health pass, and equally with access to healthcare, we hope the health pass won't be a new obstacle." VARIOUS OF MAN BEING INJECTED PEOPLE WAITING PAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MSF DOCTOR, BRICE DAVERTON, SAYING: "(This vaccination mission) is important because we have to give access to everyone, especially those in positions of insecurity, to have access to vaccinations, which for the moment is still unfortunately difficult. So these projects, where we go to where these people are, are important. We see it works, they come to us, and they come to complete their vaccination doses." MAN BEING INJECTED STAFF TAKING OUT PFIZER DOSE VARIOUS OF STAFF PREPARING SYRINGES
- Embargoed: 10th September 2021 11:25
- Keywords: COVID-19 Doctors Without Borders homeless migrants vaccination
- Location: PARIS & AMBLETEUSE, FRANCE
- City: PARIS & AMBLETEUSE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001ES215JB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France's Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is calling for better access to COVID-19 vaccinations for migrants and the homeless, and has set up tents where they can come and get vaccinated without having to present any social security card.
Social security cards are not legally required for vaccinations in in France, but some centres ask for it.
MSF operations head in the Paris region, doctor Brice Daverton, said around 5,400 people have been vaccinated since they set up pop-up vaccination centres in early June.
"There are quite a few obstacles stopping them from going to the normal vaccination centres," he said on Thursday (August 26), citing access to the Internet, language barriers, social security and administrative status.
He added that the majority do come back for their second dose.
Many asylum seekers and migrants have fled to France from North Africa, the Middle East and Asia, escaping countries blighted by wars and poverty.
More than 70 percent of France's population have received their first dose, and 57 percent are fully vaccinated.
(Production: Yiming Woo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
