Tartu vaccination centre will open its doors on 27 April
Tartu City Government, Tartu University Hospital Foundation, Tartu Ambulance Foundation
23 April / The Tartu vaccination centre in the A. Le Coq sports building (Ihaste tee 7) will open its doors on Tuesday, 27 April, when the vaccination team of the Tartu University Hospital will start the vaccination process. Second doses and primary doses will be given first at the centre to target groups specified by the government. When vaccine doses are added, everyone is welcome at the centre.
The establishment of the vaccination centre is a joint venture of the City of Tartu, the Tartu University Hospital, and the Tartu Ambulance, the aim of which is to ensure the vaccination capacity on a larger scale and in an accelerated manner.
Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas was pleased that the centre, which has been fully operational since the beginning of April, can be opened. ‘We have provided the city of Tartu with spacious premises with the necessary equipment in a good location for the vaccination centre, and also helped to find volunteers for the centre. Now, it depends on the arrival of a sufficient amount of vaccines when the centre can become fully operational,’ the mayor added.
„As the vaccination centre is ready and waiting for its opening, we will start the vaccination at the center on 27 April. Initially, the vaccination volumes are smaller than planned, but as soon as a sufficient number of vaccine doses are added, the vaccination team will be ready to increase its workload, “ explained Dr. Andres Kotsar, the Chief Medical Officer of the Tartu University Hospital. He sees the vaccination of the population as an opportunity to return to a normal life at some point. „The hospital is motivated to reach out to the city to enable the residents to be vaccinated as soon as possible to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. This will reduce the spread of the virus and thus the number of patients who need hospital treatment. As a result of the vaccination, we can turn to a natural rhythm of life at some point, and this applies to hospital work as well, “ said Dr. Kotsar.
From 27 April, all those who have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine and have booked a time for their second dose of the vaccine with the Tartu University Hospital are expected to visit the Tartu vaccination centre. In addition, all people belonging to the risk group, regardless of age, and all people over the age of 65 or who will turn 65 this year, regardless of whether they belong to the risk group or not, can get vaccinated. Information on belonging to a risk group can be obtained from your family doctor or the Patient Portal.
According to the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr. Andres Kotsar, the Tartu vaccination centre has created very good conditions for the entire process, both for registration, vaccination, and the usual 15-minute post-vaccination monitoring. The vaccination is carried out by nurses with the right to immunisation of the Tartu University Hospital, and the usual post-vaccination monitoring is organised by Tartu Ambulance.
„Rapid immunisation of as many people as possible is a very important factor in successfully overcoming the pandemic. During the year, ambulance staff have seen how insidious and diverse COVID-19 is, and that is why many ambulance staff are voluntarily contributing to the centre’s work. In this way, we help not only those people who come to get vaccinated, but also everyone else, as the chances of receiving the necessary medical care in time increase for all Tartu residents and the surrounding residents, “ said Dr. Veronika Reinhard, the Chairperson of the Management Board of Tartu Ambulance.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is free of charge and both Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines are used. With the addition of a sufficient amount of vaccine doses, it is possible to vaccinate up to 1,500 people a day at the Tartu vaccination centre. ‘The vaccination centre is a great example of cooperation between different parties in Tartu, while supporting other health care sectors, such as family doctors. I definitely recommend all residents to seize the opportunity to get vaccinated because together, we can contribute to the protection of ourselves and our loved ones,’ Dr. Kotsar emphasised.
For vaccination, people can book a time through the national eBooking system. From 23 April, the telephone number 731 7200 will also be open for booking vaccination times, where bookings can initially be made based on age.
Information on vaccines and the vaccination can be found on the website of the Tartu University Hospital https://www.kliinikum.ee/en/for-the-patient/vaccination-against-covid-19-at-the-vaccination-centre/. There you will also find information on how to get to the vaccination centre, what to keep in mind, and what are the most common questions about COVID-19 vaccines.
Last changed 23.04.2021
