To accelerate the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in France, the government announced on Thursday a series of measures, including the extension of vaccination to over 75s from January 18.

Vaccination centers will be opened, like the one in Lille, for the moment reserved for caregivers.

Europe 1 was there. 

REPORTAGE

A promise of acceleration that comes true.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that vaccination would be extended to over 75s, excluding nursing homes, from January 18.

It will be possible to receive injections against Covid-19 in dedicated centers after making an appointment.

A system already in force in several cities, notably at CeVac in Lille.

This vaccination center is currently intended for health professionals over 50 years old.

Europe 1 takes you there.

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5,000 calls per day, on average

Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the CeVac center in Lille is open by appointment.

Reynald, 51, enters the Calmette hospital.

At the reception, two medical assistants take care of managing arrivals and the phone that keeps ringing.

There are nearly 5,000 calls per day on average.

"We'll take your ID, sir, and then your social security card," asks a nurse.

The appointment is also made for the second injection, a few weeks later.

"I'm happy to do it to show that there are no risks," says Reynald.

"I also do it for mom, who is 80 years old."

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On the first floor, there are a few more people in the narrow, white hallways.

"When there will be 50 million French people who will disembark ... no, but you see the organization!" Annoys one of the people who is waiting for the injection.

"We are in a mini-corridor, it's unacceptable," she says, before being taken care of by a caregiver.

In this northern center, 120 people can be accommodated to be vaccinated.

Rapid injection after a pre-vaccination consultation

Reynald takes his place in one of the eight rooms where the injection is carried out.

Before the bite, a firefighter doctor asks him the usual questions about his history, possible Covid-19 contamination or if he is currently ill.

An express pre-vaccination consultation to follow the patients as well as possible.

"There may be a little fever, a little pain at the injection site, as with many vaccinations. It is an intramuscular injection that will be done in the shoulder", explains the doctor.

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After the injection, which he deemed painless and rapid, Reynald had to wait a little longer.

"I wait a quarter of an hour to see if I don't have an allergy," he explains.

In total, he stayed around thirty minutes within the structure.

New vaccination centers in the city such as the one in Lille will be open in the coming weeks, first 100, then 300 then 500, the government announced.