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vaccine For Members

Here's the German vocabulary you need to get the Covid-19 vaccine

The Local Germany
The Local Germany - [email protected]
Here's the German vocabulary you need to get the Covid-19 vaccine
Patienten warten im Corona-Impfzentrum Messe Berlin auf die Impfung mit dem BioNTech-Pfizer Impfstoff. Dort arbeiten unter anderem Helfer der Malteser und der Bundeswehr.(Bewegungsunschärfe durch lange Belichtungszeit) +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

From setting up an appointment to asking about side effects, here's the key vocabulary you'll need to know to get vaccinated auf Deutsch.

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Originally Beeilt euch! (hurry up!) was the first phrase that came to mind when contemplating the German Covid-19 vaccine programme, which got off to a slower-than-anticipated start.

Yet now with nearly 45 percent of the German population having received at least one vaccine (as of Monday May 31st), and vaccine prioritisation set to end on June 7th, the campaign is clearly picking up speed.

READ ALSO: Germany to open up vaccines to all adults by June 7th: What you need to know

Here's a quick guide to some of the medical vocabulary you might need. 

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These are the phrases that could come in handy for booking the appointment and before getting the vaccine:

Die Corona-Impfung – the Covid vaccine

Ich möchte einen Termin zum Impfen ausmachen. – I would like to make an appointment to get vaccinated.

Welche Impfung werden sie mir geben? – Which vaccine will I be given?

Könnte ich eine allergische Reaktion haben? – Could I have an allergic reaction?

Welche Nebenwirkungen gibt es? – What are the side effects?

Wann bekomme ich meine zweite Dosis?– When will I have my second dose?

Wie werden Sie mich kontaktieren? – How will you contact me?

Kann ich mir aussuchen, in welchem Arm Sie mich impfen? – Can I choose which arm to get the vaccine in? 

(In this context, you might be asked if you are Linkshänder (left-handed) or Rechtshänder (right-handed).

When you arrive at your appointment, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Here are the main questions they might ask you:

Hatten Sie in den letzten drei Monaten Corona? – Have you had Covid-19 in the past three months?

Leiden Sie an schwere Allergien? – Do you have serious allergies?

Wurden Sie in den letzten beiden Wochen gegen Grippe geimpft? – Have you been vaccinated against the flu in the past two weeks?

Haben Sie Fieber oder andere Symptome? – Do you have fever or other symptoms?

Hatten Sie in letzter Zeit Kontakt mit einer infizierten Person? – Have you been in contact with someone infected recently?

Sind Sie schwanger? – Are you pregnant?

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After you’ve finally received your vaccine, you might need to communicate how you’re feeling. Here’s some phrases:

Ich fühle mich gut. — I feel fine.

Das hat wehgetan. – That hurt.

Mir ist schwindlig. – I feel dizzy.

Ich glaube, ich muss mich übergeben. - I think I might throw up. 

Ich möchte mich hinsetzen. — I would like to sit down. 

Was muss ich tun, wenn ich Nebenwirkungen bekomme? - What do I need to do if I experience side effects?

Hopefully you won’t need these last few ones. Now that you’ve stocked up on vocabulary — you should be ready to get vaccinated, as soon as it’s available to you.

READ ALSO: German Health Minister predicts 90 percent of people who want vaccine will have one by mid-July

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Anonymous 2021/04/11 09:58
Thank you for this. I live close to Dortmund & I know I still have a wait, as they only just opened up reservations for people born in 1942 or 1943, & I was born in 1955. Plus I have no major medical problems, & in our area there are a lot of older people, massively overweight people, etc. etc. so I know calling my local Doctor is a waste of time right now.

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