The third-party vaccinations against Corona have started in Germany.
But do they make sense?
Opinions differ - experts clarify.
Munich - The vaccination campaign has been stagnating for weeks.
And while almost 35 percent of Germans do not yet enjoy full vaccination protection - and more than 30 percent have not even received the first dose, another topic is picking up speed: the third-party vaccinations against Corona * are starting.
For many people, the topic of booster vaccinations is still fraught with question marks: When does the third spade make sense and for whom?
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Corona: When does a third vaccination make sense - and for whom?
There is still a lot of confusion about the subject of third-party vaccination. Nevertheless, booster vaccinations have been administered throughout the Federal Republic of Germany since September. Virologist Christian Drosten considers this to be "unnecessary" in many cases. In healthy people in particular, he is skeptical as to whether a third vaccination is actually necessary. He justifies this with the fact that the protective effect of the corona vaccine is "better than, for example, the influenza vaccines". In addition, Germany's leading virologist suspects that no new mutation of the coronavirus will appear that can bypass vaccination protection and is resistant to the vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer * and Co.
For some population groups, Drosten sees the situation differently: old people and high-risk patients could benefit from a third-party vaccination.
Otherwise, an infection with the coronavirus could be fatal for you.
Currently in Bavaria only particularly vulnerable groups of people are vaccinated for the third time.
In principle, the same sequence is expected for the booster vaccinations as for the first and second spades - because a booster does not make sense until after six months * at the earliest.
According to a recent study, the third vaccination is pointless for many (video)
Third-party vaccination against Corona: Professor from Bavaria sees senior citizens and high-risk patients particularly at risk
Professor Oliver Kurzai from the Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology at the University of Würzburg * sees it similarly. He told
Bayerischer Rundfunk
that he would first recommend the vaccination for people at particular risk. “The risk age group from 80 years of age for sure, from 70 years of age probably and perhaps from 60 years of age in some cases,” he says. At the moment, scientists and doctors do not have much data on the effectiveness of a third vaccination.
Not even about when is the best time to freshen up. Many people - including the Minister for Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger - rely on antibody tests. Microbiologist Kurzai takes a critical view of this: “There is no antibody test in the world that can say: 'Yes, you need a third vaccination' or 'No, you can still wait'.” So-called antibodies are molecules in the human body that are part of the immune system . They fight pathogens, viruses and other "hostile" molecules - like the coronavirus.
Kurzai does not believe that a third vaccination at a later date will have any dramatic consequences.
"Booster vaccinations after two or three years will be just as effective as those after six months," he tells the
BR
.
It is currently unclear when the optimal time for this is.
“You don't miss a thing if you wait until reliable data is available,” says the Würzburger.
Vaccination campaign in Germany stagnates - third-party vaccinations against Corona are already running
It is likely that more reliable reports on the effectiveness of third-party vaccinations will soon be available. In the USA, for example, the refreshments are already in full swing. Every American has the opportunity to have this given to them. Bavaria's Minister of Health, Klaus Holetschek, recently reported that third-party vaccinations have also started successfully in Bavaria. The Biontech founders Özlem Türeci and Ugur Sahin consider a booster vaccination necessary * in order to avoid so-called vaccination breakthroughs. This is understood to mean illnesses and severe courses that occur despite a second vaccination. Sahin and Türeci explain it with a diminishing effect of the vaccine.
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