Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations offered at Munich Oktoberfest — Deutsche Welle
In Munich, Germany, visitors to this year’s Oktoberfest are being offered vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19. The campaign began simultaneously with the 191st festival, which opened on September 19 with the traditional tapping of the first beer barrel.
Vaccination at Oktoberfest
As Deutsche Welle English reports, the campaign in Bavaria is accompanied by the slogan “O'piekst is!” — a play on the traditional Bavarian exclamation “O'zapft is!”, meaning “It is tapped.”
Christoph Spinner, head of the infectious diseases department at Munich’s Rechts der Isar hospital, explained that the concentration of people in crowded beer tents at the festival increases the risk of infections spreading. Oktoberfest also coincides with the start of the annual flu season.
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City campaign
According to Spinner, fewer than one-third of the people for whom it is recommended have received a flu vaccination. Beatrix Zurek, an expert with the city initiative München impft! (“Munich vaccinates!”), said the initiative seeks to provide vaccinations where people gather, including at Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest in Munich will run until October 4, 2026. After the gates opened, visitors rushed to the beer tents to secure seats, while beer began to be served after the official ceremony at noon.
