"Come by, there are enough cans for everyone," is the appeal with which Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU) addressed the public at a press conference on Wednesday.

From August 2nd, all Hessians can visit a vaccination center of their choice without an appointment or registration in order to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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You will need an identification document such as a passport or health insurance card and, if available, the yellow vaccination certificate.

On this occasion, an appointment will be made for the second vaccination, which will take place in the same place.

Appointments that have already been made remain valid if citizens do not go to the vaccination center beforehand.

Health Minister Kai Klose (Die Grünen) and Frank Dastych, the head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, spoke of an opportunity to “overcome one's weaker self”.

According to information from the state government, 60.8 percent of the Hessians have been vaccinated once and 49.5 percent twice.

In this way, Hesse achieved the values ​​of states like England and America, Beuth noted.

By the end of September, the majority of adults who are willing to be vaccinated will be fully vaccinated.

That is why the plan is to close the 28 vaccination centers, which are no longer fully utilized, by the end of September at the latest.

As reported, the federal government's financial support for the company also ends on this day.

The vaccination centers were a "stability anchor for reliable protection against the coronavirus," said Beuth.

350,000 vaccinations per week possible

He only hinted that there were organizational difficulties.

Because initially there was not enough vaccine, it made sense to pay attention to a sequence.

The fact that the specifications kept changing didn't make the task any easier.

After the vaccination centers have been closed, they will mainly be carried out by doctors in their practices and in the factories, announced Klose.

Experience shows that doctors and pharmacists are able to distribute vaccine in a short time and to carry out vaccinations close to home.

Since the storage and transport conditions of the vaccines now correspond to the usual standard, unlike at the beginning of the year, special solutions are no longer required.

Dastych explained that the practices could continuously deliver a magnitude of 350,000 vaccinations per week.

Your everyday life is adjusted to it.

Even those who do not have a permanent family doctor will be vaccinated.

Klose emphasized the importance of low-threshold offers for local population groups.

The health authorities would be involved in order to organize a “vaccination night” like in Gießen.

The minister recommended local special actions and recalled that he had visited mosques himself to promote protection before Friday prayers.

Municipalities control projects themselves

The municipalities should manage their projects themselves because they know best how to reach their citizens, says Klose. His ministry is currently getting an overview of the plans. On this basis, resources and equipment could be taken over from vaccination centers after they are closed. The vaccination offers of the general practitioners and the public health service would be combined.

If booster vaccinations are needed, there are sufficient doses and staff, said Dastych. For example, almost every old people's home has a doctor. It is possible to vaccinate all residents a third time within two to three months. The ministers were unable to say how large the excess of vaccine was. Beuth announced that, taking into account the expiry dates, cans that are not required in Hessen would be collected as quickly as possible and given to the federal government. The conference of health ministers agreed that excess vaccine should be used in other parts of the world if possible, said Klose.