“FFP2 mask requirement – Germany is alone in this in the world”
Karl Lauterbach prepares the Germans for a “difficult Corona autumn”. In the Health Committee of the Bundestag, experts discuss new measures. “There are points that are scientifically incomprehensible,” says virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit.
Vaccines adapted to the omicron variant have been announced for months. On Thursday, a committee of the European Medicines Agency will advise on the approval of corresponding vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna. Here you will find answers to all important questions.
BIn the case of flu protection, it is routine: vaccines are adapted every year because the virus is constantly changing. More than two and a half years after the start of the pandemic, the time has come for Covid-19: The first vaccines that no longer only target the so-called wild type of SARS-CoV-2 should soon be on the market. The prerequisite is that a committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gives the green light for approval. That could be the case on Thursday. Here you will find answers to all important questions.
What vaccines are we talking about now?
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use is evaluating two so-called bivalent mRNA vaccines from the companies Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna. Bivalent means that two components are taken into account: The preparations should offer protection against both the original Sars-CoV-2 and the omicron subline BA.1. Specifically, according to the EMA, the committee checks whether quality, safety and effectiveness requirements are met and whether there is a positive risk-benefit ratio.
Will approval come?
According to the Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, Carsten Watzl, the EU-wide approval of the BA.1 booster is a formality: clinical data are available and the preparation has been tested on several hundred subjects. The antibody reactions were compared with a control group that had received the previous vaccine a fourth time. “We saw significantly more antibodies against the omicron variant in people with the adapted vaccine – in young people, old people and those who have recovered,” said Watzl. In addition, there would be safety data on mRNA vaccines in general.
How effective are the new vaccines?
Percentages, such as those given for the first Covid 19 vaccines, were not collected. Data on protection against symptomatic infection, serious illness and death can only be expected from use. The aim is better protection against omicrons – and above all against the disease, because protection against the infection will only be temporary after the vaccination, said Watzl. He warned politicians against raising false hopes with the adapted vaccines – even with that you could not vaccinate Corona. “If you peddle it now on a large scale and call on everyone to get the vaccination, you’re repeating the mistakes of last year.”
Which groups need the customized booster?
This answer would have to come from the competent Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) – but there has not yet been a recommendation for the new preparations. This is causing criticism among general practitioners and specialists, who are now receiving many inquiries. According to the plan, the vaccination should finally start quickly in Germany. Subject to approval, around 14 million doses of the BA.1 preparation from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna are to come in the two weeks starting September 5, according to a letter from Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), which became known at the beginning of the week.
Is it foreseeable who will benefit from the new booster?
The immunologist Watzl considers a recommendation for a second booster with the new preparations only likely for certain groups – such as people over 60 years of age, with a suppressed immune system or with previous illnesses. “I would be very surprised if the Stiko said that all adults should be vaccinated again.” He did not want to anticipate the Stiko – but above all risk patients benefited. “A serious illness is therefore less likely.” So if you are over 60 and have so far waited with the fourth vaccination, now is the opportunity for you.
What should be considered when vaccinating?
According to experts, timing is very important. Watzl said that anyone who has already followed the existing Stiko recommendation for a fourth vaccination or has been infected with Corona in the past few months should allow at least six months to elapse before the next vaccination. “This means that if you only got vaccinated two months ago, you should definitely wait another four months.” According to Watzl, it could make sense in some high-risk patients to inject the adapted vaccine earlier – this must be discussed individually with the doctor.
What about healthy people under 60?
For them, the additional booster is usually not needed, said Watzl. Nevertheless, he spoke out in favor of not generally denying younger people the BA.1 booster: Since the vaccines, albeit only temporarily, created more protection against infection, vaccination could make sense if someone had risk patients in the family wants more foreign protection.
BA.1 – what is it?
After the Corona variants Alpha and Delta, Omikron, a mutant with a heavily modified genetic make-up, appeared at the end of 2021. She can thus better avoid the first line of defense of vaccinated and recovered. The omicron waves were caused by different omicron sublineages: first by BA.1, later by BA.2, and in the summer months mainly by BA.5. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), BA.1 has not been found in random samples in Germany for a long time.
Is it worth waiting for a more recent vaccine?
There is a prospect of a vaccine that is adapted to the currently circulating BA.4/BA.5 sublines. Biontech/Pfizer have applied for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The EMA also examines an application in the so-called rolling review process, as it was said on request – one is still waiting for further data.
Immunologist Watzl clearly advises those who want to be vaccinated not to wait. “So far there is no clinical data on this vaccine candidate.” One can only speculate about the benefit – also in view of the unforeseeable development of the prevailing variants in the coming months. The modalities of approval in the EU and their timing are also open. Experts also point out that the big leap in virus development was between wild-type and BA.1, with far fewer mutations between BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5.
“Aha! Ten minutes of everyday knowledge” is WELT’s knowledge podcast. Every Tuesday and Thursday we answer everyday questions from the field of science. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.