Omikron: Fifth wave unavoidable - Lauterbach expects further variants

Created: 12/23/2021, 2:19 PM

From: Andreas Apetz

The Omikron variant is on the rise.

In a short time, the mutation should also be predominant in Germany.

The corona situation in the news ticker.

• The new Corona variant * Omikron spread around the world at a rapid pace.

• Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach * (SPD *) speaks of an unavoidable wave of omicrons shortly after the turn of the year.

  That is why strict corona rules apply on New Year's Eve *.

• Booster vaccinations are supposed to help against the spread.

  The manufacturers of the corona vaccines * are also working on modified vaccines.

  All information about the Omikron variant at a glance.

Frankfurt - The "Omikron wave can no longer be prevented," warned Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) at the press conference with RKI boss Lothar Wieler on Wednesday (December 22nd, 2021).

After the rapid spread of the mutation in Great Britain and Denmark, it is only a matter of time before the fifth wave also reaches Germany.

According to experts, the Omikron variant will strike shortly after the turn of the year in Germany.

"The measures we have taken are working," said Lauterbach, calming down in the same breath with the sad prognosis.

By the "measures taken", the SPD health minister means the tightening of the Christmas holidays and New Year's Eve decided by the Corona summit.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in conversation with RKI boss Lothar Wieler.

© Jürgen Heinrich / imago

Omicron variant: The first week of January is the set day

The Corona rules for the end of the year include stricter contact restrictions and the nationwide closure of bars, clubs and discos.

This is intended to slow down the rapid spread of the Omikron variant.

The mutation has not yet prevailed in Germany.

There is talk of around 540 reported cases, Lauterbach said on Wednesday.

But it won't stay that way in the long run: “We don't have a big, fast wave yet. That will change at the turn of the year and in the first week of January, "the Federal Minister of Health at WDR 2 predicted on Thursday (23.12.2021). The most important tool to protect the health system and its infrastructure is the booster vaccination. “What we know for sure is that we need a booster vaccination.” It can be assumed that a third vaccination “prevents 70 to 80 percent of symptomatic cases of illness”. In the course of the year a fourth vaccination is likely to be necessary. Stiko recently created a new framework for booster vaccinations and is now recommending a booster vaccination after three months.

As it is known that the vaccination protection drops rapidly after a second Corona vaccination *, the corrected question arises as to how long a third or even fourth vaccination will last.

Could regular vaccination appointments become a routine like with the flu?

According to Lauterbach, this question cannot be answered seriously.

“You can't say anything about the vaccination routine yet.” You have to check how long the booster vaccination lasts.

Omicron wave: what's next for Corona?

Lauterbach cannot predict the further course of the corona pandemic * either: “Nobody knows.

That would be a look into the crystal ball.

But I assume that new variants will emerge.

Nobody can say whether they will become more dangerous. ”As with Omikron, new variants could lead to new waves and new vaccinations.

In any case, you have to maintain “flexibility” and constantly adapt the measures to the respective developments and new medical findings, said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

For 2022, Germany has already ordered 80 million vaccine doses from Biontech *, which should be adapted to the new Corona variant.

(aa / dpa)