Fourth corona vaccination makes sense?

Munich's top expert answers the most important questions

Created: 2022-07-25Updated: 2022-07-25 2:47 p.m

By: Andreas Beez

Leads the Germany study: Privatdozent Dr.

Christopher Spinner.

© Astrid Schmidhuber

Is it time for the fourth corona vaccination?

For many, the first booster vaccination was a while ago.

Munich corona expert Prof. Christoph Spinner answers the most important questions.

Munich – Even if there are almost no corona restrictions anymore: The virus is currently raging in Germany and especially in Bavaria more violently than ever before.

Most recently, more than 30,000 people were infected in Bavaria alone on some days, and more than 130,000 nationwide.

Between Aschaffenburg and Garmisch, the seven-day incidence was well over 900, in Munich just under.

Fourth corona vaccination: will the corona situation escalate in autumn 2022?

Most infections are mild, but given the mass of patients, the number of corona patients in the clinics is increasing again.

The problem is exacerbated by chronic staff shortages in hospitals.

Many nurses and doctors are currently either suffering from Covid-19 themselves or have long since thrown in the towel out of frustration at the constant overload during the pandemic.

Experts therefore fear that the corona situation could escalate again by autumn at the latest.

Corona: Should I be vaccinated a fourth time - and if so, when?

Against this background, many people ask themselves: Should I get a fourth vaccination – and if so, when?

Does the prick make sense before the summer holidays, when do I have to make an appointment if I want to go to the Oktoberfest with as much protection as possible?

The Munich corona expert and private lecturer Dr.

Christopher Spinner.

The infectiologist and pandemic officer at the University Hospital Rechts der Isar asked burning questions about the fourth vaccination against Covid-19.

Most infections are now mild.

Does vaccination do anything at all?

Corona expert and private lecturer Dr.

Christoph Spinner:

Yes, because the complete vaccination primarily prevents severe courses.

This means: compared to unvaccinated people, you are much better protected from being admitted to the hospital or intensive care unit, let alone dying.

This applies in particular to older, chronically ill and severely overweight people.

The vaccinated are better protected than the unvaccinated: can this thesis be scientifically proven?

Spinner

: Yes.

There are now a large number of studies on this with impressive results: people who have been vaccinated three times are significantly better protected than those who have been vaccinated twice.

Your risk of dying is almost ten times smaller, regardless of age.

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Is the fourth vaccination worth it before the summer holidays?

Spinner

: It's almost always worth it because a fourth vaccination significantly reduces the risk of death from corona, especially in the elderly - by three and a half times, as specialists have calculated in current studies.

Younger people also benefit, because the booster reduces the risk of infection, at least temporarily.

How long before Oktoberfest should you get vaccinated?

Spinner

: The best protection should be built up about two to four weeks after a vaccination.

Fourth corona vaccination: For whom is the update from the booster useful?

Who can get the fourth vaccination?

Spinner

: Currently, a fourth vaccination - also called a second booster - is recommended above all for chronically ill and elderly people as well as patients with immune deficiency and their close contacts such as nursing staff.

Experts disagree on the age limit: The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) currently recommends the fourth vaccination for people aged 70 and over, while the EU authorities advise everyone over 60 to do so.

For which people is the fourth vaccination particularly useful?

Spinner

: For the chronically ill and immunocompromised, but also for people around them - for example for nursing and medical staff.

The protection wears off more quickly, especially in the risk groups.

Booster vaccinations are particularly useful for these often elderly and chronically ill people.

What vaccines are now available?

Spinner

: In addition to the mRNA vaccines from Biontech and Moderna, there are now also dead vaccines (Novavax).

The vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson), on the other hand, are no longer used.

Further, newer inactivated vaccines are expected shortly.

Is cross-vaccination still recommended (a different vaccine for each vaccination) to increase protection?

Spinner

: Cross-vaccinations are only an option for "immune-naïve", i.e. unvaccinated people.

After two years of the corona pandemic, cross-vaccination hardly plays a role anymore.

What is the minimum time that should have passed since the last vaccination?

Spinner

: At least three months since an infection or a vaccination - this applies to both the third and fourth vaccination.

Does the fourth vaccination also protect against the new variants BA.4 and BA.5?

Spinner

: All approved vaccines also protect against the circulating newer omicron variants, including BA.4 and BA.5.

Why does it take so long for the vaccines to be adapted to new variants?

After all, the manufacturer Biontech explained a year ago that this would be possible within six weeks.

Nothing has happened yet.

Spinner

: It's not just about technical customization.

In addition, vaccine manufacturers must collect new study data and submit it to the regulatory authorities.

This has now happened and the documents are being checked.

But even after a possible approval, the vaccines must first be produced, procured by the authorities and made available.

Doesn't it make sense to wait for the new vaccines adapted to variants?

Spinner

: No.

People for whom a third or fourth vaccination is recommended should be vaccinated immediately because the vaccines approved today already protect very well against severe Covid 19 progression.

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Does it matter for the fourth vaccination whether you already had Corona - and if so, when?

Spinner

: To put it very simply, every contact, be it vaccination or infection, counts as an immune event.

In general, at least three such events are required for optimal protection.

How tolerable is the fourth vaccination?

Spinners

: Most tolerate them similarly to recent vaccinations.

Other, additional side effects are not to be expected.

From October 1st you are only considered fully vaccinated after the third vaccination.

How about children then?

Spinner

: Children from the age of twelve should be vaccinated like adults, five to eleven year olds only three times if they have previous illnesses.

The risk of severe Covid 19 courses is significantly lower in children than in adults.

Are you better protected after surviving an infection than after a vaccination?

Spinner

: No, on the contrary!

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, natural immunity can vary in strength.

You seem to have the greatest protection if you have already had Corona and are vaccinated.

How long do you expect the boosted protection from the fourth vaccination to last?

Spinner

: Difficult to say.

Many factors play a role here, including previous illnesses, the vaccine and the question of whether you have already had a corona infection.

New studies on this question are already underway.

Is a fourth vaccination recommended even if the patient has previously suffered major vaccination reactions?

Spinner

: Corona vaccinations are generally very well tolerated.

It should be remembered that those affected by a Covid 19 infection often feel really ill for a few days.

In this respect, I would advise vaccination unless there are medical reasons, such as a very rare allergy, against it.

After the first three vaccinations, many people suffered from chills and body aches: do they have to reckon with such symptoms again or will the body get used to corona vaccinations at some point?

Spinner

: In fact, there is a certain habituation effect, so that the next time vaccination reactions are likely to be a little milder in many cases.

Intensive care physicians advise risk groups to have a fifth vaccination: does that make sense?

Spinner

: The fifth vaccination against Covid-19 has been recommended for months for immunocompromised people, for example people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy or after an organ transplant.

Is the fourth vaccination compatible with the flu vaccination?

Spinner

: Both vaccines are well tolerated and can even be administered together.

Otherwise, there are no longer any specific recommendations on the interval between vaccinations.

Discussion about the fourth corona vaccination

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach triggered a debate about the fourth vaccination.

In the

interview, Lauterbach said: "If someone wants to enjoy the summer and not take any risks, I would also recommend vaccination to younger people in consultation with the family doctor." Stiko boss Thomas Mertens then contradicted.

Many people are simply fed up with the coronavirus pandemic, including vaccinations.

Do we now have to be boosted again and again?