Residents of the Doubs region of France now have increased access to vaccinations thanks to a new mobile vaccination center. Previously, the cities of Besançon and Montbéliard were the only areas within the department offering vaccination services. This new initiative aims to address healthcare disparities and improve immunization rates across the region.
The mobile center, based in Pontarlier at a local medical facility, will extend its services throughout the Doubs department, excluding Besançon and Montbéliard. The first clinic was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and served ten patients ranging in age from six years and older. This expansion of vaccination access is particularly important for vulnerable populations.
Funded by the Regional Health Agency (ARS), the vaccination center is managed by the Association d’Hygiène Sociale Franche-Comté (AHS FC). The center has two primary goals: to conduct a vaccination campaign in middle schools against human papillomavirus (HPV) and certain types of meningitis, and to provide a comprehensive range of vaccinations throughout the territory, including all mandatory and recommended vaccines. “We go to the patient,” explains Karen Lagoutte-Verrier, head of service at AHS FC. “Our target audience is people with disrupted healthcare access, those who are economically vulnerable, living in areas with limited medical resources, or without social security coverage.”
Aiming for 6,000 Vaccinations Annually
In addition to Pontarlier, the team – consisting of a medical coordinator, a nurse (with a second nurse expected to join), and a medical secretary – has identified nine other areas for intervention: Ornans, Maîche, Valdahon, Baume les Dames, Quingey, Clerval, Saint-Vit, l’Isle sur le Doubs, Morteau, and the communities of the Montbéliard region. “We realize the need is greater and we want to reach people who may have mobility issues,” Lagoutte-Verrier added. The team is collaborating with municipalities, Community Health Centers (CPTS), and social care centers to establish additional clinics, potentially utilizing spaces like community halls and gyms. “We don’t need much space. We bring the equipment with us.”
The AHS FC aims to administer between 3,000 and 4,000 vaccinations in the first year, with a target of 6,000 vaccinations in subsequent years. This initiative could significantly improve public health outcomes in the region by increasing vaccination coverage.
“Protecting Yourself and Others”
Dr. Joël Leroy, a retired pediatric infectious disease physician from the University Hospital of Besançon, has continued to participate in school vaccination campaigns since 2023. When the opportunity arose to join the mobile vaccination center team, he readily applied. “I still want to help the population,” he said. Currently, eleven vaccines are mandatory for children under two years of age, and are recommended thereafter. “That’s just a legal matter; they remain important,” he explained. “Today, post-COVID, there’s a lot of mistrust surrounding vaccination. It’s essential. It protects and can eradicate diseases. We need collective immunity. Getting vaccinated protects yourself, but also others,” Karen Lagoutte-Verrier emphasized. “We’ve forgotten about some diseases because we don’t hear about them anymore, but that doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared. We’re seeing a resurgence of meningitis,” Dr. Leroy noted.
