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Özlem Türeci and Uğur Şahin: Honored by the Federal President
Photo: Ramon Haindl / DER SPIEGEL
Within months, they and their company have developed one of the most effective vaccines against the corona pandemic: Biontech founders Özlem Türeci and Uğur Şahin have now received the Federal Cross of Merit.
This was announced by the Office of the Federal President.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present the couple with the Grand Cross of Merit with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on March 19 in Bellevue Palace.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will also take part in the ceremony.
Türeci and Şahin "combine basic medical research with its translation into practical use," said the presidential office.
With the rapid development of the vaccine, they would have "made a decisive contribution to containing the corona pandemic."
The vaccine that Türeci and Şahin developed was approved in the EU at the end of December.
It is based on mRNA technology.
Genetic information for the construction of a harmless pathogen component is given by injection.
The human immune system reacts to this and builds up protection against the virus.
A study carried out in Israel recently demonstrated its very high effectiveness.
According to the results, the vaccine reduces the risk of symptoms of the disease by 94 percent.
On Friday, the result of a new British study was also announced, but it has not yet been reviewed by other scientists.
Accordingly, the vaccine also significantly reduces the risk of infection - even after the first of two doses.
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slü / AFP
