Daily Vaccination Target Set by Federal Government: A Single Physician Expected to Administer Vaccinations 96 Times Each Day
In a concerted effort to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has organised vaccination centres across the nation. These centres, part of a structured framework, aim to ensure efficient vaccination coverage for high-risk groups and the general population.
The organisation and operation of these centres involve coordination between various institutions, including government health authorities, national institutes, research centres, and vaccine manufacturers. The Federal and local health authorities coordinate the implementation of vaccination campaigns, setting up vaccination centres, and managing vaccine mandates. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's national public health institute, plays a leading role in monitoring public health, providing guidance on vaccine distribution strategies, and supporting communication efforts to increase vaccine uptake.
Research centres such as the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) collaborate on research related to infectious diseases, supporting the scientific aspects of vaccination efforts. Vaccine manufacturers like BioNTech and Pfizer, while primarily responsible for manufacturing, have expanded facilities in Germany to ensure a stable supply of mRNA vaccines, directly supporting distribution capabilities.
The vaccination process is divided into three phases. In the first two phases (Phase 1A and 1B), vaccination centres will take over due to limited vaccine availability and high storage requirements. Vaccines in these phases will be available in multi-dose containers and require cooling at minus 60 degrees. In the third phase, single doses that do not require such low temperatures will be available for medical practices.
Medical personnel, including doctors and trained medical assistants, are responsible for administering the vaccines. According to the "Recommendations for the Organization and Conduct of Vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2", exclusive patient education must be carried out by medical personnel. To maximise efficiency, a doctor could potentially vaccinate up to 96 people in a single day.
Setting up vaccination centres is a logistical challenge for the federal government, states, and municipalities. Large halls, churches, tents, and containers are being considered as locations for the centres. Various institutions are suggested to help with personnel and organisation, including the Public Health Service, independent physicians and their organisations, clinics, the military, and aid organisations like the Red Cross and THW.
Several vaccines are expected to be available in the EU in the medium term, including those from German developer BioNTech and US pharmaceutical company Moderna. The vaccination process for COVID-19 involves queuing, as shown in the provided photo. It is crucial to maintain a smooth and efficient process, with the vaccination process ideally not taking longer than 15 minutes per patient.
In summary, the coordinated efforts in Germany to establish COVID-19 vaccination centres involve a collaborative approach between government health authorities, national institutes, research centres, and vaccine manufacturers, with each playing distinct roles from policy design and public health guidance to supply and administration logistics. The ultimate goal is to ensure a swift and effective vaccination programme to protect the population and curb the spread of the virus.
The Robert Koch Institute, being Germany's national public health institute, is instrumental in monitoring public health and providing guidance on vaccine distribution strategies, contributing to the health-and-wellness of the nation. Research centres such as the German Center for Infection Research also collaborate on research related to infectious diseases, lending their expertise to the science behind the vaccination efforts.
