The vaccination campaign in Germany is entering its third round.
The problem with this: Biontech is running out.
With the booster vaccinations, those who want to be vaccinated are now to be given more Moderna.
Berlin - From now on, the Stiko recommends a booster vaccination for all people aged 18 and over.
What is certain is that the third Piks against the coronavirus should be administered six months after the last dose.
And that exclusively with the mRNA vaccines Biontech or Moderna.
The question now arises for those willing to vaccinate, which booster vaccine is best for them?
Corona booster vaccinations: For under 30-year-olds only with Biontech
For under 30-year-olds, the STIKO already made a recommendation last Thursday (November 18th, 2021): This age group should only be injected with the Biontech vaccine for the booster vaccination. Even if they were previously immunized with another vaccine such as Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the reason for this is the increased risk of heart muscle inflammation. But what about those over 30 who are willing to vaccinate?
According to the RKI, people over 30 years of age could be immunized with both Biontech and Moderna with the booster vaccination.
At Moderna, only half the dose of the basic immunization is required, while at Biontech, a whole dose is required.
Both vaccines have already been approved by the EMA as a booster vaccine and, according to RKI investigations, protect effectively, albeit not 100 percent, against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The course of the disease would be weakened by the vaccination and a booster vaccination would also reduce the risk of transmission of the corona pathogens to contact persons.
Biontech or Moderna?
That is what the Robert Koch Institute recommends
As the RKI recommends, the same mRNA active ingredient should be administered for the booster vaccinations as for the basic vaccination.
If this is not available, the other can also be injected.
Exactly that could happen with many people who want to vaccinate.
According to Health Minister Jens Spahn, the demand for Biontech has increased immensely in the past few weeks.
Biontech is in great demand - according to Jens Spahn, Moderna is a "good, safe vaccine"
In contrast, Moderna is currently sufficiently available in Germany and, according to the CSU politician, is “a good, safe vaccine”.
In today's (November 22, 2021) press conference in Berlin on the subject of "Vaccinating with Moderna and Biontech", Spahn claimed that some would say: "Biontech is the Mercedes of corona vaccines, Moderna is the Rolls-Royce."
Politicians and doctors recommend Corona booster vaccinations with both Biontech and Moderna
The doctor Sander made a similar statement at the conference: "You can take what is there with peace of mind." Both vaccines are very effective and well tolerated.
According to the current data, cross vaccinations, i.e. the combination of two different vaccines, are not a problem either.
He also pointed out that most people who have a flu vaccination do not ask for the manufacturer, they simply want good protection.
In fact, Moderna-vaccinated people could even have an advantage in terms of infection protection compared to Biontech-vaccinated people.
However, according to Sander, this is only a minor “academic difference”.