He is one of the brightest minds in the fight against the pandemic and is a sought-after guest on TV talk shows: In an interview, Professor Peter Kremsner explains why “Corona is through in Europe this summer”.
Infectiologist Professor Peter Kremsner assesses the
developments in vaccines
very positively.
The doctor does not expect any major problems with vaccinations from
new virus variants *
.
Good chances of success with the vaccine * from Dietmar Hopps company CureVac.
Tübingen / Munich - His word carries weight among vaccine experts: Professor Dr.
Peter Kremsner (59) is one of the most renowned infectiologists and tropical medicine specialists in Europe.
With his team from the
University of Tübingen
, the scientist is developing a malaria vaccine that provides 100 percent protection.
Kremsner is currently leading the crucial approval study for the
corona vaccine by the company CureVac of
the entrepreneur and SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp.
"In the summer, the Corona issue in Europe will largely be over," says Kremsner in an interview with
Münchner Merkur
and
tz
.
The native Austrian defends the federal government in the dispute over vaccine procurement.
Corona: German strategy by Merkel and Spahn?
"I can only congratulate you"
Because there is currently too little Biontech vaccine in Germany, Health Minister Spahn is in the crossfire of criticism. Has he actually failed?
Never in his life would Mr. Spahn have known in the summer which vaccine would work how well.
Professor Dr.
Peter Kremsner
Professor Dr. Peter Gottfried Kremsner:
Never in his life would Mr. Spahn have known in the summer which vaccine would work how well.
At that time it only became apparent that there are around ten vaccines worldwide that are going into the approval of crucial studies.
It was foreseeable that these candidates are probably all well tolerated and safe.
But the high effectiveness of the Biontech vaccine only became apparent in late autumn.
Only at this point in time could one have been 'smarter' than many critics now claim.
In the fall, Spahn was thwarted by an attempt to reorder by Chancellor Merkel, who insisted on central vaccine procurement by the EU. Was that a mistake?
Kremsner:
No - on the contrary: your strategy was very good, I can only congratulate Ms. Merkel on that.
As Germans, we can't
say we get the whole vaccine because we are richer and more influential than other countries.
Actually there should be fair distribution worldwide, unfortunately we are not alone in control.
But at least within the EU we should strive for and be able to achieve a common solution for everyone.
+
Recognized scientist with extensive experience in vaccine development: Professor Dr.
Peter Kremsner.
© Ulmer
Corona: vaccines waved through too early?
Criticism of hasty approvals
Weren't the USA and England simply faster and smarter than us Germans and our EU partners?
Kremsner:
I think this criticism is hopelessly exaggerated.
The pace of approval in Europe was already very, very fast.
It usually takes ten to 20 years to develop a vaccine and bring it to market.
It usually takes six to twelve months to process the approval application alone.
In the case of Corona, less than a year has passed from the discovery of the new infectious disease until the vaccine was available.
The Americans and British have been vaccinating longer than we Germans ...
Kremsner:
The approval dossier with the results of the decisive phase 3 study comprises thousands upon thousands of pages.
For example, every single serious side effect is specified.
It is impossible to seriously examine this huge amount of data in a few days.
But we should all want a serious examination.
I think it's great and highly respectable if this succeeds in a few weeks, as with the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
I don't believe in hasty approvals like the Russians or British have done, it can also go wrong.
Corona: Data on effectiveness not until spring - 1000 study participants already with CureVac vaccine
When will the CureVac vaccine you tested be ready for use?
Kremsner:
We have already vaccinated around 1000 study participants with it, tolerance and safety are good so far.
We won't have the data on effectiveness until spring.
But I dare to predict that the effectiveness will be as high as that of the vaccines from Biontech and Moderna.
They are very, very similar vaccines.
Admission in the course of spring is possible.
+
Professor Peter Kremsner vaccinated a study participant with the CureVac vaccine against corona.
© Ulmer
Can different vaccines also be combined?
Kremsner:
Although this procedure would not conform to the approval and would be in a gray area, it would be entirely possible.
As a rule, two doses of the vaccine must be given three to four weeks apart in order to achieve full protection.
You could also use a different vaccine for the second injection than for the first and also lengthen the interval between doses a little if need be - better than not vaccinating at all.
In travel medicine, this is already common practice for various vaccinations, for example against rabies.
Corona mutations: Can you expect major problems with vaccinations?
Expert optimistic
On Friday, the EMA allowed six and not just five doses to be used per ampoule for the biotech vaccine. Is this decision justifiable from a scientific point of view?
Kremsner:
I'm happy about this decision.
How do you assess the risk that the corona vaccines against the mutations or new virus variants could not work or at least work much worse?
Kremsner:
Of course, that still has to be examined in detail, but so far I do not expect any major problems for vaccination protection due to the mutations.
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