Corona wave in summer: does a fourth vaccination make sense now?

Created: 06/20/2022, 10:46 am

By: Helena Gries

The number of corona infections is increasing and Germany is facing the next wave in summer.

Should you be vaccinated for the fourth time now?

Kassel – The number of corona infections is increasing again in Germany.

Experts assume that a new corona wave will roll towards Germany in the summer because the infection curve is rising much earlier than expected.

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) told the news channel ntv: "I assume that this time we will get a real summer wave".

At the beginning of June, Lauterbach was still relaxed about an upcoming summer wave.

However, it has been a long time since the last corona vaccination for the majority of the population.

While older and weakened people have already received a fourth dose of the corona vaccines, the question remains unanswered for the rest of the population as to how useful a second booster vaccination is at all - especially in view of the approaching summer wave.

Fourth corona vaccination before the summer wave?

Stiko recommendation only for special groups of people

The hopes for the typical summer effect in the corona pandemic are also increasingly fizzled out.

According to Lauterbach, the reasons include the currently circulating and easily transferable omicron subtypes and the lack of protective measures.

For all age groups, the risk of becoming infected increases again.

So, as a precautionary measure, should we try to get a second corona booster vaccination now instead of waiting for the adapted vaccines in autumn?

The number of corona infections in Germany is increasing again.

Does a fourth corona vaccination now make sense for everyone?

© Roland Weihrauch/dpa

The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) currently recommends a fourth corona vaccination primarily for people of advanced age or with previous illnesses as well as medical staff:

• people over the age of 70

• Residents of care facilities and people with an increased risk of a severe course of illness in integration assistance facilities

• People with an immune deficiency from 5 years of age

• Employees over the age of 16 in medical and nursing facilities, especially those with direct patient or resident contact

Stiko's recommendation is justified by the fact that "current data shows that the protection after the first booster vaccination against infections with the currently circulating Omicron variant decreases within a few months".

In view of the upcoming summer wave, however, there are again considerations to introduce the second booster for everyone.

Corona infections increase in summer: general recommendation for a fourth vaccination cannot be ruled out

Data from Israel has shown that a fourth dose of the coronavirus brings little benefit to young and healthy adults.

Other corona studies contradict the unpromising research results on the fourth vaccination.

However, experts are of the opinion that a triple vaccination protects young and middle-aged people without immunodeficiency very well against Covid-19.

This also applies to the new Omikron lines BA.5 and BA.4.

According to the weekly report of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the triple vaccination has not lost its importance due to its "high protective effect against a severe course" even in diseases caused by the omicron variant.

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According to virologist Christian Drosten, long-lasting immunity can also be achieved without adapted vaccines or fourth and fifth vaccinations.

"The ideal immunization is that you have a complete vaccine immunization with three doses and on the basis of this immunization you are then infected with the virus for the first and second and third time and that you develop mucosal immunity as a result without having to accept severe courses "Said Drosten in the NDR podcast.

However, Stiko's corona vaccination recommendation can change depending on the infection situation, for example if the vaccine manufacturers bring an adapted vaccine onto the market.

However, Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach does not expect such a vaccine until September.

(Helena Gries)