The aim of the mobile vaccination bus is to ultimately boost vaccination uptake, but also acts as an information point for those who may still have doubts about getting the jab. Especially in northern rural areas, where the ‘Impfbus’ was on tour this summer, the bus is an easier and faster alternative compared to a trip to a vaccination centre.
Dr Thomas Thibauld, a general practitioner, was scheduled to work on the bus this Thursday. The time he spends on the bus depends on his own agenda, meaning usually 1-2 days per week, either on the bus or at the Limpertsberg vaccination centre.
In September, over 1,300 people had made use of the vaccine bus so far. The average age is around 35 years old, but patients over 80 and under 15 also show up.
“I am very happy that I can help the country by doing this job, because it’s obviously very important to participate in this general effort for the whole population to be vaccinated”, says Thibauld, who also runs a GP’s office. When asked whether there has been an increase in demand with the new Covid law of 1 November, he says that is hard to judge, as he is not on the bus every day.
Outside, a woman, who does not want to be named, is queuing for a vaccine. “I didn’t actually want to get the vaccine”, she says, adding however that she is not against vaccines in general. “But I am young, I want to travel and go to a restaurant.” The Covid law with the accompanying hurdles for the unvaccinated pushed her to get vaccinated, she admits. She is saddened by the fact that rapid tests are no longer eligible to enter restaurants: “It was a good option.” She says she does not talk about vaccination statuses with friends or family.
A large chunk of the effort consists of providing people worried about the vaccine with information, explains Thibauld: “From this point they actually get the vaccine, or they need some more time to think about it.”
“We actually have people coming back after processing the vaccine. A few times it happened they came back a few hours later”, the doctor says. Thibauld is a personal, approachable face for those with vaccination concerns. All in all, employees on the bus speak several languages - just the party lights and DJ are missing.
