Booster Here’s how to get an appointment for your Corona booster shot faster
More than 6.1 million people have already received it – the corona virus booster vaccine, or booster. The Standing Commission on Vaccination (Stiko) now recommends the third vaccination for all persons over 18 years of age who received their second dose six months ago. Shortening the vaccination interval to five months is possible on a case-by-case basis or if capacities permit. There is also an exception for people who have previously received the Johnson&Johnson vaccine: They can have a booster as early as four weeks after the single vaccination.
Priority for booster vaccinations should initially be given to older people and those with previous illnesses, among others, because they usually received their second vaccination a long time ago. Studies also show that members of these risk groups usually form fewer antibodies from the outset than younger, healthy people after basic immunization with two doses of vaccine. You therefore benefit particularly from a booster. Even previously unvaccinated should be "urged" are immunized, as the Stiko writes.
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After the extension of the Stiko recommendation to all adults over the age of 18, the demand for booster vaccination appointments has increased in many places – as has the frustration of many people who want to be vaccinated. Because sometimes it’s not that easy to get a timely appointment. Family practices in particular are currently being inundated with inquiries – and this at a time when there are a number of colds circulating in addition to Corona, so practices are quite full anyway.
So what to do if the second vaccination was given six months ago and your own family practice currently has no vaccination capacity?? The following is an overview of tips and portals that make it easier for you to find appointments. Please feel free to share this information with neighbors, colleagues and friends who you know belong to a risk group and would like to be boostered – or even better: make an appointment for them right away.
Request doctors of different specialties
Not only family doctors vaccinate against the coronavirus, but also urologists, gynecologists, orthopedists or dermatologists. Some practices already indicate on their websites whether they can currently make appointments and, if so, which groups of people this applies to. If possible, inform yourself in advance about the procedure in the individual practices. How to save yourself unnecessary mails and calls.
Take advantage of mobile vaccination services
The vaccination centers are currently not open again everywhere. But in many places mobile vaccination teams are on the road. Hospitals, libraries or shopping malls are also being turned into vaccination centers in some cities, at least on a daily basis. An overview of spontaneous vaccination campaigns or vaccination sites can be found by clicking on the individual German states.
Important to know: For some of the vaccination offers an appointment is needed.
Use digital appointment brokers
Doctolib is an appointment booking portal for patients. Currently there is a separate section for Covid vaccinations. Appointments are available for both first and second vaccinations, as well as boosters. Important to know: Some practices only give appointments to existing patients, so be sure to pay attention to the notices during the booking process.
Additional support with the date search offers the platform "Corona inoculation dates". It scours Doctolib and sends notifications via Twitter and Telegram as soon as new vaccination appointments are posted. The offer is currently available for 23 major German cities.
Also the App "Impf-Finder (Android/iOS) informs about free dates in the near vicinity. Basically, the search radius can be set to a distance of up to 100 kilometers. Practices must register to use the app. Appointments that cannot be booked via Doctolib, for example, are also displayed here.