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SPD health expert Lauterbach
Photo: Eduard Bopp / imago images / Eduard Bopp
The delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a rapid increase in new infections in Germany, but more and more people are protected from serious illness with a vaccination.
Actually.
According to SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, the number of those who become infected despite being vaccinated could soon increase significantly.
He expects a significant increase in so-called vaccination breakthroughs.
"Breakthrough infections occur in people who were vaccinated more than six months ago," he told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
"So we will probably soon see more cases as soon as the vaccination of a number of people who have been vaccinated in Germany is more than six months ago." The risk of a vaccination breakthrough increases regardless of the vaccine used.
Overall, around 64 percent of German citizens currently have at least one vaccination against Covid-19.
More than 58 percent have already been fully immunized against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In order to slow down the pandemic, vaccination rates of 85 percent and more are desirable.
As a rule, illnesses after breakthroughs in the corona vaccination are not as dangerous as illnesses in unvaccinated people.
"The likelihood of having to be treated in hospital is also significantly lower for those who, because of their age group without a vaccination, would have an increased risk of hospitalization."
Long covid risk increases
Lauterbach, however, expressed concern about the possible consequences of such vaccination breakthroughs: According to a new study, 19 percent of people with vaccination breakthroughs have a long Covid problem.
"In addition, those who become infected after a breakthrough in the vaccination are just as contagious as those who have not been vaccinated, although not for as long."
According to Lauterbach, new studies assume that the effect of the vaccines is significantly extended after a third vaccination.
"The protection will not be permanent, but it will last significantly longer than six months."
In Germany, the seven-day incidence rose to 48.8, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
A week ago the value was 30.1.
The number of new infections has almost doubled from 5578 to 9280 infections.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) is considering offering all citizens a Corona booster vaccination.
The countries are now gradually starting the so-called booster vaccinations in the care facilities and for particularly vulnerable people, he told the editorial network Germany (RND).
mrc / dpa / Reuters