The third corona vaccination dose is now generally possible for all adults (aged 18 and over) four months after the second sting. This clarification comes from the updated recommendations of the National Vaccination Board (NIG) published on Monday. So far, the NIG has only considered this possibility in “justified exceptional cases” – for example after two Astra-Zeneca doses. Even those who have recovered need to refresh.
In the federal capital in Vienna, even before the latest NIG recommendation was available, the third stitch was released for everyone and also inoculated. “The 3rd vaccination can be carried out from 4 and should be carried out from 6 months after the 2nd vaccination,” says the NIG’s recommendations for use (available at http://go.apa.at/xOjE7m58). After two vaccinations with vector vaccines (e.g. Astra-Zeneca), the third vaccination four months after the second vaccination is not only possible, but is also “recommended”.
The recommendation to use mRNA vaccines for the third vaccination remains the same. “The same vaccine as for the previous immunizations should preferably be used”. Since the beginning of November, the Moderna vaccine has generally only been used for people aged 30 and over; this continues to apply. The reason is “international safety reports” on an increased incidence of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle, note) and pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, note), mainly in younger people. Under-30-year-olds should therefore be refreshed with BionTech, but Moderna can also be used for people under 30 years of age if expressly requested. At the same time, the NIG emphasizes the “excellent effectiveness” of the vaccine from Moderna, which has an “unchanged good safety profile” in people aged 30 and over.
In the case of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine originally intended as a “single-use vaccine”, the recommendation continues to apply to a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine after four weeks. Pfizer / Biontech or, for people over 30, Moderna should preferably be used. The third stitch should then take place four to six months later. However, if the second stitch was carried out with Janssen, this interval is shortened to four months.
Incidentally, from January 3rd, those vaccinated with Janssen must first refresh in order to maintain the validity of the “Green Passport”, it said on Monday from the Ministry of Health to the APA. As after all second and third vaccinations, the Green Pass is then valid for a further 360 days.
The recommendations for vaccination and refreshment of those who have recovered are also new. For the “Green Passport” to be valid, those affected must be vaccinated for the first time 180 days after their recovery. In the recommendations of the NIG, this group of people can now find specific instructions on how to proceed after recovery.
After an infection (detected by means of PCR) without a previous vaccination, the first vaccination should be carried out about four weeks after recovery. This means that you are valid like a person who has been vaccinated twice – the certificate is then valid for 360 days for the Green Pass or, according to the Ministry of Health, only for 270 days from December 6th. The NIG recommends a second vaccination from six months after the first vaccination. Another, third vaccination, is recommended six to nine months after the second vaccination. If an affected person has not only picked up one vaccination, but rather two vaccinations in the near future (e.g. because they needed them for international travel), then the recommendation also applies to a third dose six to nine months after this second vaccination obtain.
If you become infected between the first and second vaccination, the NIG recommends that you also have the second vaccination four weeks after recovery. If you fail to do this, you are only considered recovered for the Green Pass and must receive another vaccination after 180 days in order to be able to continue using the Green Pass. For this group of people, the NIG recommends that the third dose be picked up six to nine months after the second stitch.
People who have been vaccinated twice and who have undergone a breakthrough vaccination (PCR-confirmed) after the second vaccination should get the third dose shortly before 180 days or nine months after the second vaccination. In this case, the green passport is valid until the third vaccination: either 360 days after the second bite (from December 6th only 270 days) or alternatively 180 days after the breakthrough infection (depending on the time of the vaccination breakthrough, note).