Read the video transcript here
Jens Spahn, Federal
Minister of Health
"Some vaccinating doctors say Biontech is the Mercedes of vaccines and Moderna is the Rolls-Royce."
With a car comparison, Jens Spahn advertises the Moderna vaccine on Monday - Spahn's attempt to capture a debate that his own ministry sparked last week. Review: During his appearance with RKI boss Lothar Wieler on Friday, Jens Spahn says that the booster campaign is picking up speed and that six million vaccine doses have been ordered for this week. Then he makes a more casual comment on the Moderna vaccine.
Jens Spahn, Federal Minister of Health / November 19, 2021
»And I also want to say explicitly that we are getting stronger - even now, for a while - using the vaccine from Moderna for the booster vaccination. We have a lot of this in stock, and I also think it's important that we use vaccines in such a way that none of them expire. We have to manage that well too. Both vaccines, Biontech and Moderna, are equally well suited for booster vaccinations, and now Moderna will play a slightly larger role again in booster vaccinations. "
What exactly that meant later became known: The Federal Ministry of Health plans to limit the weekly deliveries of Biontech cans.
The reason given was that otherwise stored doses of the Moderna vaccine threatened to expire.
The popular Biontech is rationed, Moderna is in stock - that was what got stuck.
And so Spahn will appear in front of the press again at short notice on Monday.
Jens Spahn, Federal Minister of Health
“Unfortunately, the impression has been given that we are only relying more heavily on the Moderna vaccine to avoid a possible expiry of these vaccines in the first quarter of 22nd. That is an important aspect, I want to say that, of course that is also an aspect, but it is not the decisive one. It is crucial that our Biontech warehouse empties so quickly that from next week we will temporarily no longer be able to provide more than 2-3 million doses of the Biontech vaccine per week for supply. And we deliver that too. Everything we have and everything we get delivered new will be delivered. We are not holding anything back. I am aware that this short-term change will mean that many committed helpers on site,in the doctor's offices and vaccination centers means a lot of additional effort and stress. Planned processes and procedures have to be changed and you have to persuade them. I know that and I regret that too. It is important that there is enough vaccine for all upcoming vaccinations and that both vaccines are effective. «
24 million cans of Biontech and up to 26 million cans from Moderna should be available by the end of the year.
In other words: there is enough for everyone.
The Moderna vaccine is no longer given to people under 30.
Nevertheless: Apart from that, the two vaccine experts Jens Spahn brought with him on Monday consider the debate about who receives which vaccine for the third vaccination to be superfluous.
Leif Erik Sander, Head of Infection Immunology at the Charité
»That is why the uncertainty that exists is unfounded.
It is now a matter of simply providing information.
What is really important is that you have the opportunity to do that.
And it doesn't really matter whether you get Moderna or Biontech. "
Klaus Cichutek, President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut
“Perhaps I may add again from our point of view.
You have to consider: We are sitting here in Germany in the land of milk and honey.
Due to the forward-looking actions of politicians, including the Minister of Health, we have sufficient vaccines available, all of which are approved, very well tested and which also prove to be effective, highly effective and safe in the field.
In this situation I think the discussion is really inappropriate to argue about why the two really very good mRNA vaccines cannot be exchanged now. "
It is important that all adults are vaccinated now.
An mRNA vaccine is recommended for the booster vaccinations - a combination of different vaccines is possible without any problems.
Leif Erik Sander, Head of Infection Immunology at the Charité
“These are both excellent vaccines that work equally well for the booster vaccination.
And as Mr. Cichutek also said, you know that the Biontech vaccine is currently the priority for people under 30 years of age.
Therefore, from my point of view, it is perfectly logical that vaccinations for older people can also primarily be carried out with Moderna, depending on availability.
At this point it is important to say again that Moderna is used for the booster vaccination in half the dose, i.e. 50 micrograms, and this can also be found in the Stiko recommendation. "
According to Jens Spahn, there are 16 million cans of Moderna in stock, so there is basically no limit to the number of deliveries.
