The Cologne vaccination center is ready for operation. When the vaccinations against Corona start – as of now probably at the beginning of January – between 4,000 and 5,000 people can be vaccinated daily in Exhibition Hall 4 on the right bank of the Rhine. What is still missing is approval and delivery of the vaccine, which is eagerly awaited.
By Tobias Gonscherowski
Cologne’s Lord Mayor Henriette Reker personally got a picture of the operational readiness of the vaccination center, which was set up in a few days in exhibition hall 4 in Cologne’s Deutz district. In a joint effort, the city administration with the health department, Koelnmesse, the fire brigade and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians implemented the major project of Cologne’s “Impfstraßen”.
“The fact that the first Cologne residents can in all probability be vaccinated in a few weeks feeds the hope that we will be able to leave the corona pandemic behind us in the foreseeable future,” hopes Reker.
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This is how vaccination works
You can register for an appointment at the vaccination center via the medical on-call service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians on the free telephone number 116 117. It is valid throughout Germany without an area code. The vaccinee makes two appointments: for the first syringe and 28 days later for the second syringe, as the vaccination is only effective if it has been administered twice.
By post or email, the person being vaccinated will receive educational documents with information about the vaccine, the exact sequence of the vaccination procedure, the consent to be signed and a QR code. The vaccination itself takes place according to a precisely regulated procedure with several stations in exhibition hall 4.
After the admission control, it goes to the registry and then on a voluntary basis in one of three video presentation rooms, in which an educational video from the Federal Ministry of Health is shown. Afterwards, at the request of the person being vaccinated, a further information meeting can be held with a doctor in a private cubicle. But he can also go straight to the vaccination.
This takes place on the upper floor of Hall 4. There is the actual vaccination area with currently 20 double cabins in which the syringe is administered. The vaccination is then documented in the vaccination certificate. It is recommended to then spend 30 minutes in a spacious waiting area with a clock, chairs and WiFi for safety and to prevent complications that may arise.
Gradual expansion of capacity
The capacity in the vaccination center is to be gradually expanded. If the city of Cologne has more vaccine available in the short to medium term, up to 5,000 vaccinations can be given there every day. At full capacity, the vaccination center should be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Up to 140 employees will then be on duty at a time, including 17 doctors.
Dr. At the presentation of the vaccination center, Johannes Nießen, head of the Cologne health department, emphasized the safety of the vaccine, which had been tested on 30,000 people and would have a success rate of 95 percent. “Vaccination is our exit strategy. Because it leads to herd immunity,” he said.
People should be vaccinated in the order suggested by the Standing Vaccination Commission. It starts with the group of vulnerable people as well as the doctors and nursing staff in hospitals and nursing homes. It is assumed that around 28,000 vaccine doses will initially be available for Cologne in January and the number will then continue to rise. (Photo: Tobias Gonscherowski)
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