Vaccine registration for publically uninsured foreigners and Czechs opens this Friday
From Friday, people without public health insurance, including foreigners residing long-term in the Czech Republic, are able to register for a coronavirus vaccine. The reservation system also offers vaccination centres with foreign language speaking personnel.
Every region in the Czech Republic will have at least one vaccination centre specifically designated for this purpose, Health Ministry spokeswoman Gabriela Stěpanyová told Czech Radio.
“Prague will have several of these vaccination centres. The administered vaccine will be the Pfizer/BioNTech variant. The price should not exceed CZK 850.”
In Prague, the city with the largest foreign population in the Czech Republic, six vaccination centres have been selected to offer these services, including the country’s largest centre inside the O2 Universum sports arena.
Most regions are ready to begin vaccinating immediately. In Prague, inoculation is expected to begin in mid-June.
In order to get the vaccine, non-publicly insured individuals have to register in the state vaccine registration system - registrace.mzcr.cz/samoplatci. There, they will find a special form, with instructions both in Czech and English.
Health Minister Adam Vojtěch said that the system will accept the user’s phone number and email. When the individual goes to get vaccinated they will need to bring with them a document verifying their identity and their residency permit. Payment for the vaccine will be possible by card on the spot. Some centres will also accept cash.
When it comes to foreigners, the new registration form is specifically intended for people who either have valid long-term or permanent residency permit in the Czech Republic; are EU citizens with confirmation of temporary residency or a permanent residency permit in the Czech Republic; are a family member of an EU citizen who has confirmation of temporary residency or a permanent residency permit in the Czech Republic.
The Health Ministry’s move comes after earlier criticism from affected groups as well as some politicians, such as Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib. Speaking to Czech Television on Thursday, he welcomed the inclusion of uninsured foreigners in the inoculation process.
“If we want to stop wearing respirators, we need to ensure that as many people as possible get a vaccine. That includes this group of foreigners.”
While the move comes as a welcome fix to a problem highlighted several weeks ago, Czech Radio recently found that both Czechs and foreigners vaccinated in so-called “third countries” (outside the EU) have a problem getting their vaccines recognised in the Czech Republic, with some of the country’s authorities reportedly recommending that they get vaccinated a second time. The Health Ministry stated earlier this week that the issue is currently being discussed.
