COVID-19 Vaccinations: Where to get a vaccination
People across Germany can receive a coronavirus vaccination quickly and quickly and easily. See below for a list of places where vaccinations are available and what you need take to your appointment.
Vaccination locations and other options
Vaccinations are primarily available at medical practices, but they can also be given in the workplace by company doctors and in pharmacies. In addition, mobile vaccination teams and localised vaccination campaigns are used to reach people closer to home. For those who want them, vaccinations can be given spontaneously at local events or in shopping centres. Some schools and other educational institutes run vaccination campaigns in conjunction with mobile vaccination teams. And in a number of areas, centralised vaccination centres can still be used. Vaccinations can be obtained quickly and conveniently almost anywhere in the country. The best way to find out about vaccination services and appointments near you is to visit the website of the German Land (state) in which you live.
Making an appointment
Appointments at medical practices are given out by the practice teams. It’s best to call and ask if your doctor offers COVID-19 vaccinations and what the procedure is. Some practices offer dedicated time slots for vaccinations, while others can tell you when the next available appointment would be.
Appointments with company doctors are arranged by the employer. Here, it’s best to ask for information at work and to contact the medical unit to find out how vaccinations for employees are arranged.
Most of the websites run by the various Länder (states) allow users to book appointments online. In some vaccination centres and during localised vaccination campaigns, vaccinations are administered on an ad hoc basis without the need for appointments.
What you need to know
There isn’t much that you need to consider prior to your appointment. The vaccination process is really simple. If you decide to get vaccinated spontaneously during a local vaccination campaign, you can do so without a vaccination certificate or a health insurance card. The only requirement is that you are resident in Germany and can prove it by showing some official form of ID. For those who plan ahead and arrange a firm vaccination appointment, you should take your vaccination certificate with you so that the doctor who administers the vaccine can enter the COVID-19 vaccination in your vaccination card or booklet. Tip: If you have lost your vaccination card, you can get a new one from your doctor or from the local health authority. If you don’t have your card or booklet with you, then the vaccination will be confirmed by means of a replacement certificate.
Useful information
Information such as that contained in the Vaccination Guide and the online “Vax-O-Mat” can help you make an informed decision about vaccination. You can find out which COVID-19 vaccine Germany’s Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends for people in your age group and when it makes most sense to get a second or a booster vaccine.
The vaccination process
COVID-19 vaccinations are organised in much the same way everywhere. The process usually involves five simple steps:
- Registration: Have your official ID and your vaccination card/booklet ready so your COVID-19 vaccination can be documented. If you don’t have a vaccination card or booklet, you will be given a replacement (see above).
- Information: You receive a set of informational material which you will ideally take with you to your appointment (information sheet, medical history questionnaire and consent forms; see download links above).
- Consultation: You can use the consultation to ask the doctor any questions you may have, especially those concerning vaccination-related risks and potential side effects. You will then be asked to sign the information sheet and consent form.
- The healthcare staff administer the vaccination and record it in your vaccination card/booklet or replacement certificate.
- Observation: After vaccination, you should remain in a medically supervised waiting area for a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
In most cases, after you have been vaccinated you are given a vaccination certificate containing a QR code. You can also have a digital certificate issued in a pharmacy at a later date. Additionally, the CovPass app, which is available for download from well-known app stores, can be used to scan the QR Code onto your smartphone to generate an easily-accessible digital vaccination certificate. The same can be done using the Corona Warn app.
Scheduling important follow-up appointments
Don’t forget to make an appointment for your second vaccination – the STIKO also recommends a second vaccination to provide basic immunisation for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (see this article for further information). As vaccination protection can weaken over time, the STIKO also recommends a booster vaccination for all persons aged 12 and older who received their second vaccination at least three months ago – three to six months ago for adolescents. This boosts the immune system and can significantly improve vaccination protection against COVID-19 infection.
Curious about how many people have been vaccinated so far and how many vaccine doses have been delivered to vaccination providers in Germany? The Impfdashboard (vaccination dashboard) has all kinds of interesting data.