Oktoberfest vaccination campaign: huge demand for flu and Covid protection

The Oktoberfest makes you immune: Hundreds of visitors have already used the new vaccination service at the Oktoberfest. In the first six days of the festival alone, 322 people were vaccinated against influenza or Covid-19 or both at the Oktoberfest medical station at the Aicher outpatient clinic, as the city of Munich announced.

“There is a huge rush,” said a spokesman for the Aicher ambulance. However, many of those who wanted to be vaccinated didn't go to the Oktoberfest at all, but just stopped by quickly to get vaccinated - because vaccination is available here without an appointment.

The Oktoberfest medical guard also emphasized that alcohol consumption and physical exertion are taboo after the vaccination - and therefore visiting the beer tent after the Pieks is not recommended. Those wishing to be vaccinated would be expressly informed of this in the consultations.

“Munich vaccinates”

The vaccination campaign is part of the city-wide “Munich vaccinates” initiative, which is supported by the city of Munich as well as the LMU Klinikum and the TUM Klinikum. “After almost a week, we can draw a consistently positive conclusion for our vaccination service at the Oktoberfest,” said health officer Beatrix Zurek. The aim is to prevent serious illnesses and complications and to increase vaccination rates in accordance with the recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), it said.

The city said you should bring your vaccination certificate and health insurance card with you. The offer is valid Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The vaccination protection builds up completely within about one to two weeks.

Many are not vaccinated despite recommendations

Not even one in three people for whom a vaccination is recommended has been vaccinated against influenza - and therefore has an increased risk of a severe course, recently reported Christoph Spinner, head of infectiology at the TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar. Autumn is not only folk festival season, but also vaccination season. Because now the cold season begins.

Unlike the flu, the Covid-19 virus is not so tied to the cold season and circulates all year round. “Since a lot of people come together in a small space in festival tents, the risk of infection with Covid-19 is increased at the Oktoberfest.” Cold viruses of all kinds have an easy time in the beer-filled confines of the tents. In Munich we know it: Oktoberfest flu. However, a wide variety of cold viruses play a role here.