Hamburg’s health authority sees itself prepared for a rush for the new adapted corona vaccine. “When we set up the two vaccination centers and the mobile offer, we prepared to scale up the capacities,” said a spokeswoman. The adapted vaccine is primarily administered in the doctor’s office.

The two new mRNA vaccines from the companies Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna are adapted to both the original type of Sars-CoV-2 and the omicron subline BA.1. Experts assume that these vaccines also have an advantage against the subtype BA.5, which currently dominates in Germany.

According to previous plans, around 14 million doses of the BA.1 preparations should arrive nationwide in the two weeks from September 5th, as stated in a letter from Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). It has not yet been decided who should receive the booster – the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has not yet made any recommendation.

If the demand in Hamburg is particularly high, the city’s two vaccination centers in the Tango airport terminal and in the Harburg Arcaden could be staffed at any time, said the spokeswoman for the health authority. “There is also a mobile vaccination team that (…) is used primarily for nursing homes and senior living facilities.” The use depends on the Stiko recommendations.

In addition, the vaccination centers set up at some hospital sites would continue to be kept operational or could be activated in a short time if necessary. According to the information, vaccinations are possible in the church at the Albertinen Hospital in Schnelsen, in the Asklepios Clinics in Barmbek, Harburg and Rissen, in the Helios Mariahilf Clinic in Harburg, in the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and in the Center for Vaccine Medicine at the Institute for hygiene and environment. Appointments are made online.

Most recently, the number of new coronavirus infections had fallen over nine weeks, and the end of the holiday period did not lead to a new upswing. Hamburg is currently the country with the lowest seven-day incidence.