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Lauterbach sees study from Portugal as a reason for "muted optimism"

2022-09-03T14:04:34.952Z


Lauterbach sees study from Portugal as a reason for "muted optimism" Created: 09/03/2022, 15:58 By: Bettina Menzel Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) sees reason for “muted optimism” in a recent study from Portugal. © Bernd Elmenthaler/Imago Health Minister Karl Lauterbach believes that a study from Portugal could prove important in the fall - and is cautiously optimistic. Berlin – At t


Lauterbach sees study from Portugal as a reason for "muted optimism"

Created: 09/03/2022, 15:58

By: Bettina Menzel

Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) sees reason for “muted optimism” in a recent study from Portugal.

© Bernd Elmenthaler/Imago

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach believes that a study from Portugal could prove important in the fall - and is cautiously optimistic.

Berlin – At the end of March, experts in Portugal were able to detect the BA.5 variant of the corona virus for the first time, shortly afterwards the number of infections rose rapidly.

Good news is apparently coming from the small country on the Iberian Peninsula.

In any case, a recent study gives Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) reason for “muted optimism”.

Why a study from Portugal makes Karl Lauterbach cautiously optimistic

Portugal was one of the first countries worldwide to be affected by BA.5 prevalence.

The data situation is correspondingly good, from which some insights can also be drawn for Germany.

The study by a team of researchers led by João Malato from the João Lobo Antunes Institute for Molecular Medicine in Lisbon was published August 31 in the prestigious medical journal

The New England Journal of Medicine.

"We found that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had a protective effect against BA.5 infection, and that protection was highest with prior infection with BA.1 or BA.2," the researchers said to their results.

However, they pointed out that these data need to be considered in terms of breakthrough infections in a highly vaccinated population.

Portugal was temporarily world champion in vaccination, 98 percent of the population over the age of twelve is vaccinated.

“This study from Portugal could prove important in the autumn and would be a reason for muted optimism.

The data show a relatively high level of protection against BA.5 infection in those who have recovered from omicrons with additional vaccination,” the epidemiologist and Harvard assistant professor analyzed the study results on Twitter on Friday.

In preparation for autumn: close vaccination gaps in Germany

Unlike in Portugal, there is still a vaccination gap in Germany.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 76 percent of the total population has already been vaccinated, but only 62 percent have received one or two booster vaccinations.

However, the RKI itself points out that the actual vaccination rate could be up to five percentage points higher than indicated on the vaccination dashboard.

No matter how high the numbers, vaccination remains important - as a way out of the pandemic and to reduce the risk of severe disease.

Especially since the BA.5 variant is more dangerous than Omikron and has already established itself in this country.

"If vaccination gaps were closed with new adapted vaccines, regardless of whether BA.1 or BA.4/5, especially in the over 60 group, a low severity of disease and mortality could be achieved," emphasized Lauterbach on Twitter.

"Together with the moderate IfSG measures, we would master autumn/winter," says the Minister of Health, giving an outlook on how people in Germany can arm themselves against the autumn and winter wave.

With the abbreviation IfSG, Lauterbach refers to the measures of the Infection Protection Act, which will apply from October 1st.

These provide for the wearing of FFP2 masks in long-distance passenger transport.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-09-03

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