Christian Drosten speaks out in favor of AstraZeneca's corona vaccine in a new podcast episode.
South Africa had previously suspended its vaccination campaign.
The virologist explains the details in detail.
The virologist Christian Drosten from the Berlin Charité defends the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In the NDR podcast he discusses important findings from two Israeli studies.
He emphasized the importance of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the German vaccination strategy.
Hamburg - In the current NDR podcast episode on the corona virus, Christian Drosten defended the AstraZeneca vaccine.
According to him, some things have been misunderstood about the vaccine.
AstraZeneca's vaccine was recently criticized.
However, there is an explanation for the well-known virologist at the Berlin Charité.
He also deals with two studies from Israel in the new episode.
First, Drosten begins with an appeal on the subject of vaccines: “We have to think about where we stand in Germany and not always look at the others.
And in Germany think about how to move forward and look at the others where there is substantive knowledge. ”A previously published study from Israel, a so-called preprint - shows that the vaccination campaign gives cause for hope.
And that after just one vaccination dose.
“If you have given half of the population over 60 with such a dose, then three weeks later amazing protective effects come to light,” adds Drosten.
Christian Drosten: Positive results from studies from Israel - effects already after the first corona vaccination
"It is only the first dose that you apparently need to bring about a significant decrease in the viral load," said Drosten.
Just under three weeks later - between 12 to 28 days after the first dose.
"And that in an area in which, in our opinion, the infectivity ends." This emerges from two Israeli studies that would mutually confirm.
This means that people who have already been vaccinated should therefore not be strong or not at all contagious to others.
This applies to both the corona mutation B.1.1.7 and the non-mutants, says Drosten.
In Israel, vaccines are only used with the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine.
With regard to the effect, however, the AstraZeneca vaccine does not show a very different picture, argues Christian Drosten.
“The data that we have for the Biontech / Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are very encouraging.
It can be assumed that the vaccination prevents the transmission as a whole. "
Update on Corona from Christian Drosten: AstraZeneca better than its reputation - reference to South Africa mutation
If the AstraZeneca vaccine is better than its reputation, the NDR presenter wants to know from Christian Drosten.
“Yes, I can say that without hesitation.
When I look at the public discussion in Germany, a lot has been misunderstood. ”The AstraZeneca vaccine is a“ semi-academic vaccine ”because it was co-developed by Oxford University.
This means that the vaccine is "very closely monitored by academic research".
Information would therefore be published in bits - and not, as assumed by a pharmaceutical company, as an overall situation.
As a result, there were many "science nibbles".
"Although sometimes it would certainly have been better to put the whole thing in a larger framework," says Drosten.
According to him, AstraZeneca's vaccine is very good.
So far, the vaccine has only been recommended in Germany for the 18 to 64 age group.
As the Standing Vaccination Commission announced, there is insufficient data for people over 65 to be able to assess the effectiveness in this age group.
Corona mutations: Christian Drosten considers the British variant to be more relevant - AstraZeneca in South Africa
It was recently announced that the Astrazeneca vaccine in South Africa apparently provides less protection against mild and moderate courses due to the corona mutation that first appeared there.
A vaccination campaign with the vaccine was therefore temporarily suspended in the country.
On the basis of the study that forms the basis, however, nothing can be said about severe courses, Drosten shows.
The group of patients is much too small for that.
However, that is exactly what citizens would be interested in.
It is therefore incorrect to say that the vaccine does not work against the variants.
Drosten describes the statement as "nonsense".
The study would not substantiate such a statement.
“In Germany we have the chance to get out of this pandemic at an early stage.
That can suddenly happen in quick succession in the second quarter, ”says Drosten.
Politicians must therefore also rely on AstraZeneca in their vaccination strategy.
“We have to do everything in our power to vaccinate as quickly as possible,” he continues.
“There's always a fly in the ointment, and some people look at it with a magnifying glass, you shouldn't do that.
One should rather consider what one can contribute to the fight against the pandemic. "
AstraZeneca: No waiting for Biontech vaccine update due to corona mutants
"It would be a completely wrong thought to wait until an updated Biontech vaccine is available before I take AstraZeneca before vaccinating," said the virologist about the corona mutants. “For Germany, given the current distribution of mutants, I would not assume that such an update would be needed for vaccines in the all too near future. We will get along very well with the vaccines that are now available. "
(Aka)
