Lauterbach expresses doubts about the fourth corona vaccination - special Moderna booster takes much longer than expected

Created: 02/21/2022Updated: 02/21/2022 05:11

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach doubts the effect of a fourth corona vaccination.

© Wolfgang Kumm/dpa/archive image

The fourth corona vaccination should curb the renewed increase in infections in Israel, but new data are dampening hopes.

Lauterbach also doubts the fourth stitch.

Munich - For a long time, Israel was seen as the successful example of combating the corona virus, especially in the early phases of the pandemic.

The small country quickly procured the necessary vaccines after their development and vaccinated the population with a well-organized, fast campaign.

In June 2021, the government finally decided to lift all restrictions on public life, because there were no more than 20 new infections per day across the country.

Suddenly the tide turned for the Corona model student Israel.

The effectiveness of the vaccination also decreased due to the new mutations and infection numbers shot up again.

Again, tough restrictions had to be introduced in many areas.

With the highly contagious omicron variant, the situation finally took a dramatic turn, prompting Israel to launch a fourth vaccination campaign.

However, the data from the Middle East country make some doubt the effect of the fourth vaccination - including Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).

Video: Health Minister Lauterbach warns

Corona vaccination: According to the study, the effect of the fourth vaccination is low - Lauterbach skeptical about further doses

A study by an Israeli research team published on February 15 is about the fourth vaccination.

The current vaccines don't seem to have much use for the fourth stitch.

Carsten Watzl, Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, referred to the study from Israel and wrote on Twitter that the vaccination had little effect on the T cells - white blood cells that make up part of the acquired immune system.

The protection against a symptomatic infection is only 30 to 40 percent.

"Little benefit at the current time with the current vaccine," noted Watzl.

However, he added that the results are not necessarily transferrable to people over 70 years of age.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also commented on Watzl's information.

He quoted the immunologist's tweet and wrote: "These data from Israel tend to speak against 4th vaccination for all." He openly expressed his doubts about another vaccination after the booster.

He had previously emphasized to the

that a triple vaccination was quite enough.

"Anyone who has had three vaccinations with mRNA vaccines or a similarly effective vaccine today or in the future has good basic immunization," said the minister.

Corona vaccination: A study from Israel shows only a slight protective effect with the fourth vaccination

The data of the pre-print study actually indicate a rather small additional benefit of a fourth corona vaccination dose in protection against omicron infections.

For healthcare workers, after a fourth dose of an mRNA vaccine, antibody levels have been restored to those seen just after the booster, but breakthrough infections have been common, the paper shows.

The effectiveness of the fourth dose in terms of protection against infection with the omicron variant is given by the researchers as 11 (Moderna) to 30 percent (Biontech) compared to triple vaccinated people.

Because of the assumed effect against severe courses and death, according to the authors, older and vulnerable groups are most likely to benefit from a fourth dose.

According to the study, the courses of infection in health workers were usually very mild, but the majority of them had relatively high viral loads.

According to the authors, they were potentially contagious.

Overall, the data suggested that a fourth dose does not further boost immunity, but simply restores peak levels, they say.

In the study, a group of around 150 subjects received the mRNA vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer as the fourth vaccination, and another group of around 120 participants received that from Moderna.

The results were compared to control groups consisting of triple vaccinators.

The interval between the third and fourth dose was four months.

On the safety issue, the study said the results indicated a profile likely similar to that of previous doses.

In their conclusion, the team writes that the poor effectiveness of the fourth dose in preventing mild or asymptomatic omicron infections and the infectious potential of those affected increases the urgency of developing next-generation vaccines.

Omicron Booster: Biontech should come faster than Moderna - Sahin with forecast for the pandemic

At least with the US vaccine manufacturer Moderna, however, one should wait a little longer.

The company expects an Omicron-specific booster in August.

“We believe a booster shot will be needed.

I don't know yet whether this will be the existing vaccine or just Omicron or a bivalent one: Omicron plus existing vaccine, two mRNA in one dose," emphasized Moderna boss Stephane Bancel.

Clinical data is still being collected to determine whether the Omicron-adapted vaccine offers better protection than an additional dose of the current vaccine.

However, Biontech's omicron vaccine will apparently go faster.

Founder Ugur Sahin assumes that a corona vaccine tailored to the omicron variant will be delivered as early as April or May.

First of all, the European Medicines Agency EMA still has to wait for data relevant to approval, the entrepreneur told the broadcaster

.

Sahin now rated the overall situation in the pandemic as much more relaxed.

An end to Corona is not to be expected in the next five to ten years, he said.

Mankind will not get rid of the virus: "But from our point of view it will no longer be this big drama." If necessary, Biontech can also produce vaccines against new variants, the company boss added.