The delta variant is becoming more and more popular in Germany.
The Standing Vaccination Commission has therefore now made adjustments to its vaccination recommendations.
It concerns the Astrazeneca vaccine.
Munich - Due to the current spread of the more contagious Delta variant * in Germany, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) is adjusting its vaccination recommendation.
The virus mutation, which was initially rampant in India, now accounts for almost half of all infections with the coronavirus * in Germany and will soon be the dominant variant, according to Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
Now people who have received a first dose of Astrazeneca will in future receive an mRNA vaccine such as Biontech or Moderna as a second injection, regardless of age.
Corona: at least four weeks - Stiko changes vaccination interval at Astrazeneca
The interval between the first and second dose should then be at least four weeks.
The recommendation applies “subject to the feedback from the comment procedure, which has yet to be opened,” it said.
The experts justify this advice by stating that the immune response after the administration of two different preparations - first vector, then mRNA vaccine - is “clearly superior” to the immune response after two doses of Astrazeneca.
Experts speak of a heterologous, i.e. a different vaccination schedule.
Stiko had previously only recommended this to younger people who had already received an initial vaccination with Astrazeneca before this vaccine was only recommended for those aged 60 and over who would like to be vaccinated.
Corona: These intervals are currently recommended for vaccinations
The Stiko emphasized that in view of the significantly more contagious Delta variant, it was important to “take the second vaccine dose on time”. After just one dose of vaccine, protection against Delta appears to be "significantly reduced". The protection against severe disease courses by Delta is similarly good after full vaccination compared to protection against other corona variants, it said, citing data from Great Britain. On the island, the delta variant had led to an increase in the number of cases.
The Stiko now recommended the following intervals between the two required vaccine doses: three to six weeks with Biontech / Pfizer *, four to six weeks with Moderna *, nine to twelve weeks with Astrazeneca * (if someone else should be vaccinated twice with it) and “from four weeks” for the combination of Astrazeneca and mRNA vaccine.
vaccine |
Vaccination interval |
|---|---|
Comirnaty (Biontech / Pfizer) |
3-6 weeks |
Spikevax (Moderna) |
4-6 weeks |
Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca) |
9-12 weeks |
Heterologous vaccination schedule (Vaxzevria / mRNA vaccine) |
from 4 weeks |
Corona in Germany: More than half have a vaccination dose - Biontech dominates
Around 31 million people in Germany are currently fully vaccinated.
That corresponds to 37.3 percent of the total population.
A total of 45.8 million people (55.1 percent) received at least one vaccine dose.
The vaccination rate is currently highest in Bremen (63.1 percent) and lowest in Saxony (48.1 percent).
The vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer currently takes up most of the German vaccination campaign.
Three quarters of vaccinations in Germany are carried out with the vaccine from the Mainz-based company.
All data refer to the status as of June 30, 2021. The data / interactive team of the Ippen-Digital network provides daily updated figures on the corona situation in Germany.
(as / dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
