Vaccination without prior notification, appointment and confirmation code: Berlin’s first drive-in for corona vaccinations has opened in Lichtenberg. Because of the rush, newcomers are referred to Sunday – further vaccination drive-ins have been announced.
After just a few hours, Berlin’s first drive-in for corona vaccinations has reached its capacity limits. In front of the vaccination center in the parking lot of the Ikea branch in Landsberger Allee in Lichtenberg, many people willing to be vaccinated had already arrived before the vaccination started, so that capacity was reached at eleven hours after the opening.
New arrivals will be referred to the coming days by the health authorities. The organizers said that they had to avoid those who want to be vaccinated in the long lines from collapsing due to the heat.
According to the health administration, Berliners can be vaccinated without an appointment in the vaccination center, which opened on Saturday.
Health Senator Dilek Kalayci announced on Saturday that the campaign would be expanded to include more vaccination drive-ins. The Senate also wants to use the parking spaces of the other Ikea branches in Berlin: “I am in discussion with the management that we will also repeat the entire concept in Tempelhof and Spandau, that is, the low-threshold vaccination offer will continue in Berlin.” The vaccination quota of 60 percent with the first vaccinations and 45 percent with both vaccinations is not yet enough.
Lichtenberg’s district mayor Michael Grunst (Die Linke) said that the rush did not surprise him because the district had already made a similar pop-up offer in Hohenschönhausen on Whitsun weekend, which had already been very well received.
“We said we want to continue to have such offers where the people are.” The offer could close many gaps, explained Grunst. People who have no health insurance, who do not have a family doctor, “so everyone can get an offer here” could be vaccinated here. And Grunst assured all those who were turned away on that first day because of the large crowd: “If you come tomorrow or the day after or next week, you will also get a vaccination.”
Proof of residence in Berlin is required for the vaccination in this drive-in. The vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are available. In addition to a lane for motorists, there is also a pedestrian lane.
Initially, the offer is planned for six weeks – with the option of an extension. The health administration expects about 2,000 vaccine doses per day.
Broadcast: Inforadio, July 17th, 2021, 12 noon