The vaccination campaign in the fight against the coronavirus is picking up steam. As part of a model project, Endress+Hauser is operating a vaccination center for employees in Maulburg. The Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry for Social Services, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, chose the location as one of 12 pilot companies where company physicians are permitted to carry out Covid-19 vaccinations.

The vaccination center opened on 20 May 2021 and will initially be in operation until mid-June. During this time, employees from Endress+Hauser Maulburg, as well as employees at August Faller GmbH & Co. KGH in Binzen and Schopfheim, will be vaccinated. 1,200 doses of the Covid-19 vaccination from Moderna are available. The voluntary vaccination service is available to all employees aged 18 and over.

To ensure that the vaccine from Moderna is fully effective, two injections with an interval of four to six weeks are required. The Ministry of Social Services has approved the delivery of the vaccine for the second round of vaccinations. In the event more vaccines are available, the existing infrastructure and processes in Maulburg can be used for further vaccinations.

Accelerating the vaccination campaign

Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure applied for the model project “Vaccinations through Company Physicians” together with August Faller GmbH & Co. KG. The Maulburg location was chosen for the Bodensee-Hochrein region of the Chamber of Commerce. In Maulburg, Endress+Hauser produces level and pressure measurement instruments that are essential for ensuring the supply of food, medications, water, energy and other goods necessary for daily life.

Through the program, the pilot companies will support the regional vaccination campaigns and relieve the workload of the vaccination centers and medical practitioners. “We’re extremely pleased that we were able to begin vaccinating,” says Dr Peter Selders, managing director of Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure. He also views participation in the model project as an expression of social responsibility. “We want to make our contribution to the acceleration of the vaccination campaign.” Dr Alexander Graf, head of regional economic policy at the Hochrein-Bodensee Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of the model project. “Endress+Hauser established a professional vaccination center within a short period of time. The experience from the pilot programs will help to expand the rollout of company-provided vaccinations.”

Online registration

After the Ministry of Social Services made its selection for the model project, a team at Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure immediately developed a plan for the vaccination center in Maulburg. The center is located in the foyer area, where vaccination cubicles and a rest area were set up in two large conference rooms. Vaccination appointments are made via the company’s own platform.

The digital infrastructure was already in place since Endress+Hauser has been offering employees rapid Covid-19 tests at no cost since Easter. The rapid test station was put into operation even before such services were made mandatory. The company is now benefiting from this step. “We became acquainted with many organizational and logistical processes with the establishment of the test station. That’s very helpful for the vaccination center,” says Volker Frey, strategic expert at Endress+Hauser. He stresses the close collaboration with the Malteser aid agency, whose members assume responsibility for the medical oversight of the tests and for the injections in the vaccination center.

Expertise from pharmaceuticals and medicine

The Maulburg location offers the ideal conditions for a vaccination center as it has suitable space and can easily provide capacity for professional cooling and storage of the vaccination vials, thus ensuring that the vaccines do not thaw and go to waste. As a manufacturing company, creating and setting up organizational processes is one of Endress+Hauser’s strengths.