“Promotional campaigns do not reach enough people”, believes the general secretary of the National Union of Nurses and Health Educators

“Promotional campaigns are not sufficient, not numerous enough and do not reach enough people”, estimated Friday December 1 on franceinfo Gwenaelle Durand, general secretary Snies (National Union of Nurses and Health Educators) Unsa Education, nurse in a vocational high school at the Academy of Lyon, in Ain. 2.5% of 5th grade middle school students received a first dose, far from the 30% wanted by the government.

Did you expect so few vaccinations?

Yes, I am not at all surprised by these figures. We were surprised by this campaign which arrived suddenly and if we were surprised the families too and therefore they were not well prepared. It was not the television campaign in September that made families decide more quickly. In well-informed families, students were already vaccinated. Attending doctors encouraged families to get vaccinated.

Is there a problem with vaccination numbers?

This campaign was organized by the Regional Health Agencies which ordered vaccination centers to carry out these vaccinations. They also have staff constraints. In some establishments, they arrived at 10 a.m. and left at 4 p.m., they vaccinated 3 students every 20 minutes. When there were more students, choices had to be made. We did not want to make choices, but it is a reality, if there are not enough personnel to vaccinate, we cannot vaccinate everyone.

What about vaccine adherence? Is everyone in favor of it?

There is a lot of mistrust about vaccination in general. However, it is the only vaccine that can prevent cancerous lesions, so it is still a vaccine that must achieve consensus. But, there is not enough information, big doubts about vaccines, mistrust on the part of people and it will take time. Promotional campaigns are not sufficient, not numerous enough and do not reach enough people.