If you want to enjoy the summer without the risk of illness, then he would “of course, in consultation with the family doctor, also recommend vaccination to younger people,” the SPD politician told the “Spiegel”. Nevertheless, there is disagreement as to whether the fourth vaccination also makes sense for younger people at the moment.
The EU medicines authority Ema and the EU health authority ECDC had only spoken out in favor of a further booster vaccination for everyone over 60 and at risk patients. The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) in Germany recommends the fourth vaccination for risk patients and people over 70 years of age.
Data from Israel suggest that at least people over the age of 60 are better protected by the fourth vaccination. According to this, the second booster in this age group led to more than three times the protection against a severe course of the disease than in people whose third vaccination was more than four months ago. Another study from Israel from April, however, also shows that the fourth vaccination in younger and healthy people has only a “minor benefit”.
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For the epidemiologist Markus Scholz from the University of Leipzig, Lauterbach’s call came too early. “Refresher vaccinations for everyone are recommended in order to reduce the disease burden of a wave as much as possible,” he told the Handelsblatt. This makes the most sense before the start of a new wave.
This is how virologists react to Lauterbach’s advance
However, the current BA.5 wave is already flattening out again. “I would therefore promote a vaccination campaign in early autumn to prepare for the expected autumn and winter wave,” he said.
According to Stiko, data shows that the effect of the booster in the omicron variant decreases within a few months.
(Photo: IMAGO/avanti)
The protective effect against infection decreases relatively quickly after vaccination. If the number of cases is very high, there are still relevant death numbers even with high vaccination rates. The protection against severe courses, on the other hand, lasts longer.
>> Read here: Longer waiting times at the doctor? Statutory health insurance physicians are sounding the alarm because of Lauterbach’s savings law
The virologist Christoph Spinner, on the other hand, told the German Press Agency that the decision to get the fourth vaccination also depends on the personal risk of infection – and how much contact you have with vulnerable people in everyday life.
Reactions to Lauterbach advance
“If it’s been six months since the last vaccination and someone now wants to go to festivals or major events in the summer, another vaccination is probably advisable,” Spinner said. “Anyone who works from home and has few contacts outside of family and friends can certainly wait a little longer.”
In general, a second booster vaccination is by no means a mistake if the first was at least three months ago. According to Spinner, if the third and fourth vaccinations follow each other too quickly, this is of little use.
Timo Ulrichs, epidemiologist at the Chair for Global Health at the Akkon University in Berlin, also recommends: “Vaccinate as widely as possible a fourth time.” This brings the individual immune protection to 100 percent, he told the Handelsblatt. This is good preparation for autumn and winter and reduces the risk of long Covid and the spread of subvariants of omicron.
A recommendation by the Stiko, which would support Lauterbach’s advance, is still pending. Stiko boss Thomas Mertens opposed broad four vaccinations for younger people. He does not know of any data that would justify such advice, he told the “Welt am Sonntag” and added: “I think it’s bad to make medical recommendations under the motto ‘a lot helps a lot’.”
Make vaccination decision with family doctor
Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) sees the missing Stiko recommendation as a hurdle. He basically welcomes Lauterbach’s initiative, he said on Friday. However, a clarification by the Federal Ministry of Health is needed that the fourth vaccination for people who do not fall under the Stiko recommendation is covered by liability law in the event of vaccination damage.
>> Read here: The current developments in the corona pandemic in the news blog
Holetschek said, “Only then can we ask our vaccination centers to vaccinate people over or even under the age of 60, regardless of a Stiko recommendation.” which disregards or anticipates the evidence-based recommendations from medical specialist committees cannot and must not be the task of politics.”
Lauterbach, on the other hand, pointed out that the decision to vaccinate is always a decision between the family doctor and those affected. The Stiko “recommends only in general”. The minister also advised people over 60 “under no circumstances” to wait for a vaccine adapted to the Omicron variant, which should be available in the autumn. The vaccines reliably protected against contracting Covid or dying as a result of a corona infection.
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