Immunization clinic shuts down operations
In Oldenburg, Germany, the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations has transitioned from dedicated vaccination centres and mobile teams to primary care settings such as general practitioners and pharmacies. This change aligns with the nationwide strategy in Germany, where responsibility for vaccination has moved from centralised centres to routine primary care settings following the most critical phases of the pandemic.
Mayor Ralf Wessel expressed his gratitude for winning the property of the former Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) in the Ärztehaus, which housed a vaccination centre. However, he regretted that the permanent vaccination clinic was not being further funded by the state, leading to its closure. The mobile vaccination teams, which operated in the Oldenburg district from October 2021, administered approximately 39,000 vaccinations against the coronavirus between that period and December 2022. The teams were tasked with offering vaccinations to supplement local doctor's practices, with a total of around 136,000 vaccinations carried out since January 2021.
Ganderkesee, the most populous municipality in Oldenburg, housed the permanent vaccination clinic, where the Johanniter and Malteser worked together. However, the low number of visitors to the clinic likely contributed to its closure, as the demand for vaccinations peaked in November and December 2021 and from January to March 2022. The health department offered vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11, with 2,950 vaccinations given since October 2021.
Dr. Leonhard Hamschmidt, medical director of the health department, believes that the endemic phase of the coronavirus will occur next year, and corona will be treated like the flu. As vaccinations become integrated into regular healthcare services, targeted campaigns will only be utilised in exceptional circumstances. Health authorities continue to recommend seasonal vaccinations or booster doses for risk groups, with information and bookings managed via healthcare provider networks or regional health department updates.
The state plans for some pharmacies to take over immunisations in the future. Some equipment from the vaccination centres went to the health department, and some to Ukraine aid Oldenburg. The storage of equipment from the vaccination centres has been cleared.
Patients seeking COVID-19 vaccinations are advised to consult their local doctor or pharmacy for availability and scheduling. The shift to primary care settings reflects a more sustainable, localised approach to managing the pandemic, as Oldenburg moves towards treating COVID-19 like any other endemic disease.
[1] [Health Department of Oldenburg](https://www.oldenburg.de/gesundheit) [5] [German Federal Ministry of Health](https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus-covid-19/stellenangebote-coronavirus-impfungen)
- As the health department in Oldenburg integrates COVID-19 vaccinations into regular health-and-wellness services, employees from the Johanniter and Malteser organizations might find themselves taking on new roles in providing routine health-and-wellness care, rather than solely focusing on vaccination efforts.
- With the shift to primary care settings for COVID-19 vaccinations, individuals may find it beneficial to seek advice on health-and-wellness matters along with their vaccination schedule, as their general practitioners or local pharmacists now play a crucial role in both health maintenance and disease prevention amidst the endemic phase of the coronavirus.
