German Doctors Offer Oktoberfest Flu Jabs as Festival Opens - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of revelers are descending on Munich, Germany, as the 191st Oktoberfest officially got underway on Saturday. As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), festival-goers rushed onto the grounds as early as 9:00 a.m. to secure coveted spots inside the massive beer tents, with some dedicated visitors waiting overnight with sleeping bags and camping chairs since Friday evening.
The festival, known locally as the Wiesn, runs for 16 days through October 4 and is expected to attract more than 6 million guests. Beyond the traditional beer tents, carnival rides, and Bavarian cuisine, this year's installment blends century-old traditions with modern health initiatives.
Beer service was strictly prohibited across the grounds until the official opening ceremony at noon. Munich’s 36-year-old mayor, Dominik Krause of the Green Party, marked his ceremonial debut by tapping the first barrel with just two strikes of the mallet, a feat he prepared for alongside a personal tapping coach.
Upon successfully opening the keg, Krause delivered the traditional Bavarian cry, "O'zapft is!" ("It is tapped!"), before presenting the first one-liter mug to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder of the Christian Social Union (CSU). Cannon fire subsequently signaled to vendors across the grounds that beer could officially be served.
Organizers managed early morning crowds by releasing visitors in controlled stages to prevent dangerous crushes at the main entrance.
Alongside the usual festivities, medical professionals in Bavaria are using the massive gathering to address seasonal health concerns under a new promotional slogan: "O'piekst is!" ("It has been pricked!"). Local doctors and health initiatives are offering on-site flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to attendees.
Health experts warn that the close quarters of crowded tents create ideal conditions for viral transmission, particularly as the festival coincides with the start of the annual flu season.
"With so many people coming together in such tight spaces in the beer tents, the risk of infection at Oktoberfest is higher," said Christoph Spinner, head of infectiology at Munich's Rechts der Isar hospital, as reported by DW.
Spinner noted that fewer than one-third of individuals recommended for a flu shot have received one this year.
Beatrix Zurek from the city-led München impft! ("Munich vaccinates!") campaign echoed the necessity of meeting visitors where they are. "It's our job to go where people are. And that means: Oktoberfest," Zurek told DW.
While opening day brought clear blue skies and mild temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), visitors are facing slightly higher prices at the counter this year. A one-liter mug (Maß) ranges between €14.80 and €15.90 ($17 to $18.27).
According to an analysis cited by DW, the average price for a beer rose by 2.38 percent compared to last year, reaching €15.61. Historical data shows that average prices have nearly quintupled since 1985, when a liter cost approximately 6.25 Deutsche Marks (equivalent to €3.20), significantly outpacing general inflation over the same period.
