Because of the delta variant, a higher vaccination rate is required in order to be able to speak of so-called herd immunity.
Scientists have now specified this new value.
Stuttgart - The corona numbers are increasing and are causing great worry lines among the population and politicians.
Probably because of the rapidly increasing number of cases, there is currently a much greater demand for vaccinations - and also refreshments.
But is herd immunity even possible in the case of the coronavirus despite the rampant Delta variant?
Corona herd immunity possible despite Delta variant?
A crucial question, because herd immunity is repeatedly mentioned as a prerequisite for corona restrictions to be lifted.
For a long time, an immunity rate of 70 percent was the goal.
The RKI recently spoke of a vaccination rate of 85 percent that should be achieved.
However, according to researchers at the University of Tübingen, the effectiveness of all four vaccines approved in the EU against the Delta variant has decreased.
This emerges from a literature study commissioned by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Health.
However, the study confirmed that all vaccines are very effective and would provide 90 to 100 percent protection against severe disease even with the very aggressive Delta variant.
Corona herd immunity is only possible from a vaccination rate of 90 percent
Nevertheless, according to the researchers, a vaccination rate of almost 90 percent is required so that the delta variant can no longer spread even if all contact restrictions were lifted.
"Our vaccination rate of 65.4 percent is not enough to defeat the pandemic," concluded Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Health, Manne Lucha.
Across Germany, according to the RKI, 67.4 percent of the population are currently fully vaccinated - 70 percent of citizens aged twelve and over are vaccinated at least once (as of November 12).
Further findings of the study:
Vaccinated corona infected people are around 40 percent less contagious than non-vaccinated people
The vaccination generally protects young, healthy people better than the elderly.
This is why a booster vaccination is particularly important for older people.
Unvaccinated people dominate the transmission situation, even though there are more people who are vaccinated: "The non-vaccinated minority make about 64 to 78 percent of all infections," says the report.
Herd immunity is achieved when so many people are immune from vaccination or previous infection that a pathogen cannot spread any further.
Infections can then only be observed sporadically.
(rjs)