Instant boosters!
Omicron vaccines from Biontech and Moderna will come much later - Lauterbach warns
Created: 01/28/2022, 14:49
By: Kai Hartwig
Health Minister Lauterbach appealed to the population to have boosters promptly.
© Wolfgang Kumm/dpa
Health Minister Lauterbach sees the Omicron situation under control.
But the new vaccines are still a long way off.
Berlin – With a well-running vaccination campaign as a central component, the fight against the corona virus should also be won in Germany.
The omicron wave in particular is currently causing a massive increase in the number of cases.
The booster vaccination is still pending for some German citizens.
According to the vaccination dashboard of the Robert Koch Institute (as of January 28, 9:01 a.m.), 73.8 percent of the population in Germany have received two vaccinations.
So far, only 52.2 percent have received the booster vaccination.
Are some of those who have been double-vaccinated still hesitating with the booster because they are hoping for a special Omicron vaccine?
Omicron vaccine: Lauterbach urgently appeals - do not postpone booster vaccination
Health Minister Lauterbach warned on Friday (January 28) at the federal press conference on the current corona situation against postponing the booster vaccination.
“The booster campaign has lost some momentum.
Many think Omikron is harmless and some would rather wait for an adapted vaccine," said Lauterbach: "Both are wrong."
According to the Minister of Health, new Omicron vaccines that Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna are already working on are still in the test phase and, according to current knowledge, will probably not be available until May.
"The vaccinations
(with the vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna; editor's note)
clearly protect against death.
The risk of dying drops by 99 percent with boosters compared to unvaccinated people," said the minister.
"Therefore, here is my appeal again: Get vaccinated!
Protect yourself now and don't wait for vaccines that are still in development.”
Omicron vaccine: Lauterbach advertises current corona vaccines from Biontech and Moderna
Lauterbach once again advertised the two currently available corona vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna.
These have already proven themselves millions of times and are also an effective remedy against the Omicron variant.
"I would like us to be able to say in retrospect: We had a high number of cases, but few deaths," said the SPD politician.
"And that we manage to avert a relapse in the fall."
It is of no use to anyone if you only want to carry out the booster in May with a vaccine specially designed for Omikron.
Lauterbach: “The Omicron vaccine is coming.
But it is no longer worth it if it comes at a time when the omicron wave has ended."
(kh)