Corona-News

With fall fast approaching, flu season is also just around the corner. For this reason, it is very important that elderly people, individuals with increased health risks, and individuals with a high risk of exposure remember to get their annual flu shot, in addition to getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Flu activity is expected to be higher this year, after the flu season was virtually nonexistent in 2020 due to the coronavirus protection measures. On the one hand, this is due to the easing of social distancing and hygiene rules; on the other hand, natural immunity in the population is less pronounced after the mild flu season, leading to higher susceptibility. Furthermore, the influenza vaccination will help relieve the strain on the health care system during the 4th wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

As in previous years, RWTH Aachen employees are offered free vaccination against influenza at the University Medical Center. This season, the quadrivalent influenza vaccine recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) will be available. The influenza vaccine is reviewed and updated each year based on the prevailing virus types. The new composition is determined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This year, the University Medical Center will be able to offer employees over the age of 60 the high-dose quadrivalent flu vaccine recommended by STIKO. The fourfold concentration of active ingredients leads to an approximately 30% higher vaccine efficacy compared to conventional influenza vaccines.

The coronavirus situation makes it necessary to adapt the registration and vaccination process to the current protective measures. Appointments for vaccinations must be made in advance using an appointment booking tool, available immediately via https://ecampus.rwth-aachen.de/vo/Grippeimpfung .You can use this tool to book an appointment on your preferred date. There are various vaccination locations to choose from (Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, SuperC, FH Jülich).

It is also possible to get vaccinated against influenza during a regular occupational health check-up without making arrangements beforehand.

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Members of RWTH and anyone interested can get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine of their choice – free of charge and no prior appointment needed.

The mobile vaccination bus of Städteregion Aachen will be making another stop at RWTH Aachen University on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The bus will stop in front of the Main Building, Templergraben 55, from 10:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone interested can get vaccinated with the vaccine of their choice – free of charge and no prior appointment needed (for second vaccinations, the choice is limited to the approved vaccines for the second shot).

Please note: you must provide proof of ID and your health insurance card.

The German Government has decided that from October 11, 2021 (the start of the lecture period) citizens’ tests will no longer be offered free of charge. Exceptions only apply to individuals who have medical reasons (contraindications) for not being vaccinated, who will not have to pay. RWTH is not planning on providing its own centralized testing service. Individuals who need a test certificate to access a course or event from this point on should find out about the testing offers and respective costs at an early stage.

You can find the latest information on test centers in Städteregion Aachen here: Testen in Aachen (de)

Please note the following special arrangement announced by the government: Free citizens’ tests will continue to be offered to students who have been vaccinated with a vaccine other than those listed by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Sinovac, Sputnik V, etc.) through December 31, 2021. Please see: Proof of Vaccination (PEI)

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The current pandemic situation and the vaccination progress have led to the easing of restrictions and regulations in many areas of life. Nevertheless, the epidemic situation in Germany is set to last until the end of November and is still serious; therefore, all university members must continue to be careful and behave responsibly.

Accordingly, RWTH’s top priority continues to be protecting its employees and students from possible infection.

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Members of RWTH and anyone interested can get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine of their choice – free of charge and no prior appointment needed.

The mobile vaccination bus of Städteregion Aachen will be making another stop at RWTH Aachen University on Monday, September 13, 2021. The bus will stop in front of the Main Building, Templergraben 55, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone interested can get vaccinated with the vaccine of their choice – free of charge and no prior appointment needed (for second vaccinations, the choice is limited to the approved vaccines for the second shot).

Please note: you must provide proof of ID and your health insurance card.

In the upcoming winter semester, all face-to-face teaching activities will, in principle, be permitted again according to the State ordinances currently in effect.

On the basis of the currently known regulations, in-person courses can be held if they are in compliance with the following regulations and recommendations:

• All participants of all in-person courses must be checked for compliance with the so-called 3G regulations when entering classrooms or lecture halls. Individuals who are neither fully vaccinated nor have recovered from Covid-19 nor have been tested are not allowed to participate in any face-to-face courses. Should a conflict arise, please contact University Security (+49 241 80 94250 or 113 from campus). Instructors are responsible for verifying that the 3G regulations are observed in their classrooms, and, of course, these same rules apply to them. Central University Administration (ZHV) is currently examining whether a visual marking of the Bluecard can be offered so that the checks can be accomplished more quickly. To encourage everyone to comply with distance requirements and the mask obligation, RWTH will station designated Corona Guides in the corridors of central lecture hall buildings again.
• We will try to offer free testing through the university medical center for all the students who have been inoculated abroad with a vaccine that is not licensed in the EU, as well as for those that cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. You will receive detailed information about this shortly. All other students not belonging to the 2G group (i.e. they have recovered from a coronavirus infection or are fully vaccinated) must get the required proof of a negative test on their own, which will, by that time, be subject to a fee.
• The obligation to maintain minimum distances between seats in classrooms also no longer applies. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend that seats in classrooms or lecture halls be occupied in a checkerboard pattern and that masks be worn during class.

Please keep in mind that regulations and recommendations may change at short notice, particularly due to changes in the rates of infection. For example, the Ministry of Science has reserved the right to address increased rates of infections in the winter semester by ordering the immediate conversion of face-to-face courses into virtual formats.

The Crisis Management Team will let you know about any changes to the regulations and recommendations as quickly as possible.

RWTH strongly recommends that all courses with more than 200 participants be held as online courses from the beginning. Since a combination of face-to-face and online courses will be offered in the winter semester, online options must be offered throughout the semester. We cannot assume that students will be able to attend online courses during the scheduled time slots, as they might need more time to move around campus between classes or get home.

It is possible to hold hybrid courses in which one group of students participates in the classroom and the other via video conference. However, the students can then choose freely between attending the course in person or online each time for the rest of the semester. We are currently preparing recommendations for technically implementing this hybrid option.

It is up to the instructors to decide whether a course is offered in-person, or online, or as a hybrid version.

Legally, a higher number of participants than 200 is also permissible per the State ordinances currently in effect. However, the experiences of the last three semesters have shown us that we would like to use virtual teaching formats permanently, especially in large courses, irrespective of the rates of infection. In addition, we must consider the organizational effort and time it takes to check for students’ compliance with the 3G regulations as they enter their classrooms or lecture halls, which unfortunately makes it difficult to hold large courses on-site at the moment. We have agreed with the representatives of all faculties to offer as much in-person teaching and learning as possible, especially to promote social interaction and integration among the students, but we must also address the ever-evolving pandemic in a responsible manner.

The above rules will likely apply to lab courses, excursions, and student workplaces as well.

Different regulations may apply for students of the Faculty of Medicine. The Dean’s Office is responsible for deciding on these regulations.

The Crisis Management Team and the Rectorate have established adapted regulations for RWTH based on the revised version of the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance. The new regulations, in effect until the start of the lecture period (October 10, 2021), are available here (PDF).

We will keep you informed about the further developments. In particular, an email from the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning with regulations and recommendations for the upcoming winter semester will follow shortly.

The University Medical Center is expanding its Covid-19 services starting next week. Individuals who have been vaccinated in a country outside the EU are often faced with the challenge of proving the equivalence of their vaccine according to the criteria of the European Union. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut provides relevant information on the equivalence of vaccines here.

The University Medical Center now offers individuals the opportunity to be issued a vaccination certificate if they have received an equivalent vaccine to make it easier for them to have their compliance with the 3G regulation at RWTH checked. This certificate will be (exclusively) recognized as a vaccination certificate by RWTH. Currently, this offer particularly targets individuals who have received a COVISHIELD vaccine. If the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut recognizes further products, this list will be extended accordingly. Individuals vaccinated in countries with one of the four products authorized in the EU do not require a certificate.

The Vaccination Center of Uniklinik RWTH Aachen can issue certificates on the following dates:

• September 7, 2021, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• September 8, 2021, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• September 9, 2021, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• September 16, 2021, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• September 23, 2021, 12 noon to 2 p.m.

After September 23, 2021, the vaccination clinic hours will be Thursdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Prior registration is not necessary. You will find the Vaccination Center at Uniklinikum RWTH Aachen, Konferenzraum, Floor E, Corridor 3 at Elevator B2. If you have any further questions, please contact the team at the University Medical Center at sekretariat@hsa.rwth-aachen.de.