Germany is gearing up for its mass COVID-19 vaccination operation, which could kick-off as soon as December, or as soon as the first vaccines get regulatory approval in the EU.

Carmaker Opel said on Wednesday it was ready to help, inviting the states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia to set up vaccination centres in their automotive plants.

"With large factory buildings and parking areas as well as good connections to the local public transport network, our locations have excellent logistical prerequisites to specifically support and facilitate the vaccination process as soon as a vaccine is available," Opel’s chief executive Michael Lohscheller told the Deutsche Presse Agentur (German Press Agency) on Wednesday.

Lohscheller said the fight against COVID-19 was a task for society as a whole, and everyone should help. "We want to make our contribution,” he said. “People's health is the top priority."

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Opel belongs to the French PSA group (UG.PA), with is currently in the process of merging with Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) under the new name Stellantis, which would be the world’s fourth-largest carmaker. The merger is expected be finalised by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Germany’s 16 states are already making plans to create hundreds of centres to administer vaccines, with health ministers reportedly planning for two centres per administrative district, and six in the capital Berlin. These could be set up in big exhibition halls and similar spaces.

Vaccination will be voluntary in Germany. However, the country has the second-oldest population in the world after Japan, which makes it imperative to get the elderly, and those in high-risk groups vaccinated first.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Germany to extend semi-lockdown until 20 December

The death toll from coronavirus hit a one-day record high in Germany on Wednesday of 410. Despite now being in the third week of a partial lockdown, the country reported 18,600 new cases in the past 24 hours.

State leaders will have a virtual meeting with chancellor Angela Merkel today to agree to extend the current restrictions, including the shutdown of the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors until 20 December.

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