Currently, everybody who enters the Columbus Cruise Center (CCCB) in Bremerhaven has an important reason. Due to the pandemic, no cruise ships are setting off from here right now. But the employees of BLG LOGISTICS, EUROGATE, North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven and GHBG who come to the Columbuskaje want to protect themselves and others, and also do their bit so that cruises can soon resume again. They are taking advantage of the voluntary, free offer of vaccinations organized by their employers with the vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer or Moderna.
Up to 120 vaccinations per day can be performed in the vaccination center. And the uptake is good: “Since January 3 we've already vaccinated 1,400 employees,“ reports the doctor and Managing Director of occupational medicine and technical safety service AMD Hanse, Dr. Peter Prince von Coburg. Despite this, it's usually no problem to get a same-day appointment via the hotline, he says. A lot of preparation work was done in December to ensure this success. “In the first few days, we handled 1,400 to 1,500 callers per day. Demand was high because the offer had been so well publicized.“
Even though the visitors aren't setting off on a cruise, the mood is good because of the smooth-running operation. “Everything's really well organized and there's practically no waiting time,“ says Cynthia Kramer, who works in Claims Management at the BLG AutoTerminal Bremerhaven and is getting her booster jab today. “Without this offer, it would have been difficult to get an appointment, and I didn't want to stand in line outside for hours before Christmas.“ She highly recommends the vaccination center: “The view from here is just awesome!“
Bartholomäus Lozinski, a bus shuttle driver at the BLG Autoterminal, is also happy: “Everybody's so friendly and I'm glad I can get my booster shot today on the first possible date, after exactly five months.“ Lozinski found out just how important this is shortly before his vaccination appointment: He received the news that his PCR test was negative just in time. When the doctor tells him that he can immediately use his digital vaccination certificate to update his vaccination status in the Corona warning app, he is even happier.
The vaccination center at the Columbuskaje will remain open until the end of January. “But, depending on demand, that could be longer,“ says the Prince of Coburg. “Whatever happens, employees will still be able to get vaccinated in the occupational medicine walk-in station.“ The doctor considers the concept a great success. “Cooperation with the CCCB was excellent, and of course it's ideal for vaccination in the pandemic that we have so much room and light here.“ And people with a late-afternoon appointment might also be able to enjoy a stunning sunset. For the Prince of Coburg there's no doubt: “This is Northern Germany's most luxurious vaccination center.“
