How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Romania: Online appointments, mobile and drive-through centers & more

As more COVID-19 vaccines arrive in the country, the Romanian authorities are trying to make it easier for people to get vaccinated by adding extra options such as mobile and drive-through vaccination centers, or even organizing "vaccination marathons" in big cities. Online appointments are also available, and family doctors are set to join the program as well.

Hundreds of vaccination centers are currently open throughout Romania, and those who want to get the vaccine can just book an appointment at the nearest one. That can be done on the dedicated online platform - here. After registration, users just have to choose a vaccination center and make an appointment if places are available, or sign up on a waiting list and wait for a spot to open up. An interactive map of all vaccination centers is also available on the online platform.

Things are easier for those who want to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. As of mid-April, those interested can receive this particular vaccine without advance appointments on the vaccination platform, but only at centers using this vaccine and where places are available. Check the online interactive map to see which centers use the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The authorities also launched the first mobile vaccination centers earlier this month, in several counties such as Arad, Bacau, Constanta, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, and Sibiu, according to the local media. This option is to be expanded to other counties as well, as the authorities hope that this solution would help them boost rural access to the vaccine. Vaccination at mobile centers can be done without a prior appointment on the online platform, but people need to show an identity document at the center.

Then, there are also the drive-through centers. The first such location opened in Deva on April 24, and, according to official data, it was quite a success: more than 1,200 people were vaccinated in the first two days. A second center opened in Cluj-Napoca on Monday, April 26. Similar locations are also set to open in Bucharest and other big cities across the country in the coming period. Vaccination at drive-through centers is done without a prior appointment (but an ID is required).

To speed up the campaign, the Romanian authorities also decided to organize so-called "vaccination marathons"