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Appointments and information:
666 1900
iPatsient
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Appointments and information:
666 1900
    Appointments and information:
    666 1900
    iPatsient

    Vaccinating against COVID-19

    COVID-19 vaccination in Estonia – official information from vaktsineeri.ee.

    Occupational health room at Magdaleena unit

    • Vaccination with the COMIRNATY (BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH) vaccine in the occupational health room ( MY 0221) at the Magdaleena unit.

    • We invite people from the age of 12 to come and get vaccinated, preferably at a time booked through the e-booking system.

    • East Tallinn Central Hospital does not vaccinate children aged 5-11.

    Vaccination of immunocompromised patients with extra doses of COVID-19 vaccine

    • At a time booked by an East Tallinn Central Hospital specialist doctor or based on a digital referral.

    How can you book a time to get vaccinated?

    A vaccination appointment can be booked

    • through the digital registry
    • by calling 1247 (Mon–Fri 8 am to 8 pm)

    For more information on vaccination, call the helpline 666 1900 of East Tallinn Central Hospital. For vaccination-related health issues, contact your GP or consult the general practitioner's helpline 1220.

    Please note! Make sure your contact information is correct (e.g. phone number and SMS preference) in the ETCH patient portal www.ipatsient.ee in order to receive an SMS notification (if your vaccination is booked at least 2 days ahead). If you have not marked the box asking for SMS permission or your phone number is incorrect, the message will not reach you.

    Before booking an appointment, please note that the second dose is administered after a specific interval (e.g. the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech is given after six weeks). For example, if you receive the first dose of the vaccine on 24 May, the second dose will be given on 5 July. Please make sure you are available for your second dose appointment.

    Where does vaccination take place?

    Occupational Health Office of the Magdaleena unit

    Vaccination place at the Magdaleena unit (Magdaleena Outpatient Clinic, Centre of Occupational Health) at Pärnu mnt 104. 

    More information about Magdaleena unit

    In the Office of Infectious Disease of the Ravi Unit
    In the Office of Infectious Disease of the Ravi Unit (C-block, room RC0370).
    Parking on hospital territory and the streets surrounding it is offered for a fee. The parking spaces on hospital territory are usually full Monday-Friday. More information about Ravi Street buildings and parking.

    Things to consider before your COVID-19 vaccination

    • You must have valid identification with you when coming for your vaccination.

    • The entire vaccination process will take up to 30 minutes (arrival, registration, vaccination and 15 minutes in the monitoring area).

    • Only come for your vaccination if you are healthy. Wear a mask.

    • When you come for your vaccination, wear clothes that allow you to comfortably expose your shoulder for the injection. COVID-19 vaccines are administered into the upper arm.

    What if you can’t make it to your vaccination?

    It is important for people who have booked an appointment to make sure they come for their vaccination. If for some reason you cannot come, please cancel your appointment immediately through the eBooking System or the patient portal iPatsient or by calling 666 1900 (Mon-Fri 07:15-18:00). 

    When will you receive your second dose?

    You will be informed of the time of your second dose while you are registering for your first one.

    Before booking an appointment, please note that the second dose is administered after a specific interval (e.g. the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech is given after six weeks). For example, if you receive the first dose of the vaccine on 24 May, the second dose will be given on 5 July. Please make sure you are available for your second dose appointment.

    Booster dose

    In Estonia, you can get a booster dose from age 18. All adults need to get a booster dose, but it is most critical for at-risk groups, where weakened immunity can lead to severe disease. A booster dose reduces the risk of infection as well as the likelihood of becoming seriously ill several times.

    You are eligible for a booster dose if your primary vaccination course was:

    • at least three months ago for COMIRNATY, SPIKEVAX and VAXZEVRIA (AstraZeneca AB) vaccines

    • at least two months ago for COVID-19 VACCINE JANSSEN

    According to the expert committee on immunoprophylaxis, those who have contracted and recovered from the coronavirus should get a booster dose five months after their first dose.

    Maximum protection from the booster dose will develop within two weeks after the injection.

    Will I be issued an immunisation passport?

    Information about your vaccination will be entered in the health information system where you can see it yourself from your electronic health record and print out the e-immunisation passport if necessary. If you wish, you can also have the information entered in your paper immunisation passport. We do not issue new immunisation passports on site. 

    What to do when I do not have possibility to create the certificates at the Patient Portal?

    The service centres of the Social Insurance Board are accepting applications for creating EU COVID certificates by Estonians and foreigners who have been issued the Estonian ID-Code, who do not have the possibility to create the certificates by themselves at the Patient Portal (digilugu.ee).

    EU COVID certificates which involve proof of vaccination, proof of a negative coronavirus test result or proof of having had COVID-19, shall be issued in the service centres of the Social Insurance Board.

    The foreigners who turn to the Social Insurance Board for getting a COVID certificate, must present their Estonian ID-code and a document of identification. The application form may be prefilled and printed. Please take the application to the service centre of your convenience. The EU COVID certificate will be sent to the e-mail of the applicant within three working days. The service is free for everyone.

    More information

    Official information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Estonia: www.vaktsineeri.ee/covid19

    Vaccination helpline for questions concerning vaccination: 1247.

    For vaccination-related health issues, contact your GP or consult the general practitioner's helpline 1220.

    Frequently asked questions
    View FAQ here
    Frequently asked questions
    Why vaccinate?
    Vaccination of the population is required to reduce the spread and morbidity of COVID-19. The higher the proportion of people vaccinated, the lower the prevalence of the disease. Vaccination does not mean returning to a normal life immediately; however, it does help most people avoid suffering from symptomatic and severe COVID-19.
    Should people who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated?
    People who have already had the coronavirus should also get vaccinated, as vaccination strengthens the immune response. Starting from 15 March 2021, the recommendation of the National Expert Committee on Immunoprophylaxis is to
    • vaccinate people who have had COVID-19 with the first dose one week to six months after recovery.
    • People who get COVID-19 after receiving the first dose of the vaccine (>14 days after the first shot) will not receive a second dose and will be considered vaccinated for the following six months.
    Should people with allergies get vaccinated?
    A history of allergy to food, plants, pets, heavy metals, dust mites, etc. is not a contraindication to vaccination. However, if you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any vaccine, talk to your GP.

    Patients at confirmed risk of anaphylaxis should be vaccinated according to the instructions sent to their GP. This requires a decision made via a remote consultation with an allergist/immunologist or an infectious diseases specialist on the need for vaccination in a hospital setting. In Tallinn, patients at risk of anaphylaxis are vaccinated at West Tallinn Central Hospital.
    Is it safe for pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to get vaccinated?
    Most clinical trials on vaccinating pregnant women with the COVID-19 vaccine recommend that pregnant women get vaccinated. The best time to do this is during the second trimester of pregnancy.
    Vaccination against COVID-19 is not contraindicated during breastfeeding.
    Are there any side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?
    Mild to moderate side effects are common after vaccination; however, serious side effects are very rare. Serious side effects include anaphylaxis and it is therefore necessary to remain under the observation of a healthcare worker for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine shot.

    Mild to moderate side effects lasting 1-2 days include pain at the injection site, headache, fever (up to 39 C) and muscle pain. For pain and fever, an analgesic such as ibuprofen or paracetamol may be administered.

    If the side effects persist for more than two days or get worse, and if the symptoms do not improve with the help of over-the-counter medicines, we recommend that you consult your GP (outside working hours, call the national general practitioners' helpline on 1220).
    When will the second dose of the vaccine be administered?
    The timing of the second shot depends on the vaccine and the decisions of the National Expert Committee on Immunoprophylaxis. The time of the appointment for the second shot will be announced to you at the reception desk on the day of receiving the first dose.
    Starting from 15 March 2021, the intervals between the doses are as follows:
    Pfizer/BioNTech: six weeks
    AstraZeneca: 12 weeks
    Moderna: four weeks
    What happens if a person becomes ill after receiving the first dose and cannot come for the second shot?
    Please be sure to inform the hospital by calling 666 1900 (Mon-Fri 07:15-18:00) or by sending an e-mail to info@itk.ee with the following information: your name, personal identification code, telephone number, vaccination booking (date and time).
    How long does it take for immunity to develop?
    Full immunity appears 7-14 days after receiving the second dose. This is why administration of a second dose is needed for two-dose vaccines.
    Partial immunity develops as early as 14 days after receiving the first dose, but the level of antibodies is not yet sufficient to prevent infection. It is not entirely clear how long the vaccine's protective effect will last, although research suggests it is at least six months.
    Does the vaccine work against mutated strains of the virus?
    Not all mutations cause the vaccine to lose its effectiveness. However, the genetic changes in virus strains are constantly monitored to evaluate their effect on the vaccines that have been or are being developed.
    Is vaccination against COVID-19 documented in the immunisation passport?
    All vaccinations are documented in the information system and can be found in your electronic health record under immunisations. An entry in the immunisation passport is not required.
    If both doses of the vaccine have been received, is personal protective equipment necessary?
    Wearing a protective mask is still mandatory in outpatient offices/testing. Patients will be handed protective masks by employees of the corresponding office. Everybody entering the hospital building must disinfect their hands. People displaying symptoms characteristic of viral infection (coughing, rhinitis, fever) are not allowed to enter the hospital premises.