The vaccinations are progressing slowly, the number of new infections is increasing.
Politician Helge Braun warned of another danger.
But there is news that gives hope.
Mainz / Munich - The number of coronavirus cases in Germany is increasing.
The calls for a harder lockdown are getting louder.
And while the British coronavirus mutation B.1.1.7 is of particular concern, the fear of another mutation is already growing.
Chancellery Minister Helge Braun warned urgently in an interview with
Bild am Sonntag
.
Germany is "in the most dangerous phase of the pandemic".
The politician continues: "If the number of infections rises rapidly again in parallel to the vaccination, the risk increases that the next virus mutation will become immune to the vaccine."
Coronavirus: worst-case super mutant?
- "Then we would have to start all over with the vaccination"
It seems like a race against time.
On Monday (March 29) the 7-day incidence across Germany was 134.4 and has increased further compared to the previous day (129.7).
Experience has shown that the number of new infections is low on Mondays.
Nevertheless, 9,872 new corona cases and 43 deaths were recorded within 24 hours.
Exactly one week earlier, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported 7709 new infections, almost 2160 fewer.
However, vaccinations in Germany are progressing rather slowly.
According to the RKI, 10.8 percent of the population has now received an initial vaccination (as of March 29, 2021).
What about the effects of a mutation resistant to the vaccine?
They are practically obvious.
CSU politician Braun said: "Then we would need new vaccines, then we would have to start all over again with vaccination."
Coronavirus vaccine: Biontech founder with good news - "Can adapt vaccine within six weeks"
But it is precisely such a worst-case scenario that scientists seem to be working towards.
As Biontech founder Uğur Şahin told the
Bild newspaper
, they are already working with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Medicines Agency on a blueprint study.
“If that is successful, if a super mutant appears, we can adapt the vaccine within six weeks, even without a clinical study.
This study will probably take four to five months, ”said Uğur Şahin.
In the case of a super mutant of the coronavirus, you are not left completely empty-handed.
Nevertheless, one would have to start with the vaccinations from the beginning.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a 47-year-old died after being vaccinated with the Astrazeneca vaccine.
The connection is still unclear.
(mbr)