They have a battle of words: Despite the resumption of AstraZeneca, Karl Lauterbach and Alexander Kekulé cannot come to an agreement on “Markus Lanz”.
Hamburg - “Markus Lanz” is about the re-approval of the controversial vaccine AstraZeneca by the EU drug agency EMA on Thursday evening.
The vaccine came under fire after several cases of rare blood clots were found in the brain.
In Amsterdam, EMA boss Emer Cooke said confidently: "This vaccine is safe and effective."
The SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach is of the same opinion.
In the case of Markus Lanz, he once again emphasized that he would never have stopped administering the vaccine himself - despite the risky side effects.
Virologist Alexander Kekulé, on the other hand, makes it clear that he doesn't think much of AstraZeneca.
An opinion he had a few weeks ago when he called the vaccine a "second class vaccine".
"Markus Lanz" - these were his guests on March 18th:
Alexander Kekulé - virologist
Karl Lauterbach - SPD health politician and epidemiologist
Cerstin Gammelin - deputy editor-in-chief of the parliamentary editorial office of the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Tilman Kuban - Federal Chairman of the Junge Union.
Gregor Peter Schmitz - editor-in-chief of the
Augsburger Allgemeine
At the beginning of the program, Kekulé makes it clear: "I don't like the way science is driven by politics."
Lauterbach, who is connected via video, is heading in a completely different direction - and assures that he would be vaccinated personally with AstraZeneca.
About the EMA's decision, he says: “I am very satisfied with it - I expected it to be.
The Astra vaccine is safe and has great utility. "
Karl Lauterbach, on the other hand, sees the side effects as minor.
"When it comes to side effects, we have to distinguish between two large groups - general thromboses and very rare, specific thromboses," says the epidemiologist.
In his opinion, the currently detected blood clots in the brain belong to the latter and extremely rare group.
Corona at "Lanz": Kekulé on his criticism of AstraZeneca - "History has proven me right"
In the meantime, however, 18 of these thrombosis cases have been reported in Germany.
A number that can continue to rise.
Kekulé states with a serious look: “The ultimate goal must be to maintain confidence in the vaccinations as a whole.
That would be the greatest harm of all if people no longer believe in the vaccination! "
The virologist does not retract his statement regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.
When asked by Lanz, he replied: "I think, to a certain extent, history has proven me right."
At the same time, Kekulé criticizes the decision to resume vaccination: “The EMA has made a political decision, which is understandable.
She says there is no quick answer to this question mark about side effects.
She says: Whatever has occurred, it is so rare that we still recommend the vaccination. "
This is exactly the opinion of Karl Lauterbach, who explains to Markus Lanz: “I would not have stopped the vaccination.
I would have waited for today's evaluation because the result was expected from my point of view.
On the other hand, Health Minister Spahn cannot be blamed here. "
The SPD health politician promises: “We will be able to restore confidence in the vaccine.
The benefits predominate. "
Karl Lauterbach assures "Markus Lanz" (ZDF): "All vaccines that we use are first-class vaccines"
Lauterbach even emphasizes that he would have continued to vaccinate until the EMA decision - despite the accumulation of thrombosis cases: “If it had actually happened that the European approval authority had stopped the vaccination, then that is of course something that would have been politically supported Must take responsibility. "
He adds, "All of the vaccines we are currently using are first class vaccines!"
Journalist Cerstin Gammelin agrees with the epidemiologist and at the same time criticizes Kekulé: "I think it's pretty difficult to talk about a second-class vaccine."
Tilman Kuban (CDU), meanwhile, praises party friend Jens Spahn and says: "It was the right step by Jens Spahn to listen to the scientists."
Kekulé contradicts vehemently: "They don't know anymore either."
Moderator Markus Lanz laughs boldly: "Mr. Kekulé, you are the rider of the apocalypse here today, I'm just noticing."
Will Germany approach another hard lockdown due to the third wave?
Kekulé remains vague and explains: “I think we missed the chance to properly prepare for the end of the lockdown.
We didn't manage to decouple.
We haven't vaccinated enough and we don't have rapid test concepts.
So I would say we should at least continue the lockdown. "
Conclusion of the show
At “Markus Lanz” on Thursday evening, the two top health experts Karl Lauterbach and Alexander Kekulé had a heated argument after the EMA announced the resumption of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Although both sides are strongly represented, concerned citizens did not realize whether and how safe the controversial vaccine really is.