According to STIKO recommendation: Spahn advertises cross vaccination

First AstraZeneca, then an mRNA vaccine: The federal and state governments want to implement this new recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission immediately. There was enough vaccine available, said Health Minister Spahn – also for refreshments in the fall.

The federal and state governments support the recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) to use the mRNA vaccines from BioNTech / Pfizer or Moderna for a second vaccination after a first vaccination against the coronavirus with the vector vaccine from AstraZeneca. After consultations with the health ministers of the federal states, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) campaigned for this so-called cross vaccination.

Such a combination of vaccines is “particularly effective” according to scientific knowledge. It offers “very, very high vaccination protection”. There is also enough vaccine available to implement the recommendation, said Spahn. In principle, cross-vaccination is now possible – depending on the availability of vaccines and logistical requirements.

Shorter interval between vaccination doses

On Thursday, the STIKO adjusted its vaccination recommendation for the second vaccination after a first AstraZeneca dose. The reason given was that cross-vaccination was more effective in protecting against corona infection than twice administration of AstraZeneca. In the opinion of the STIKO, the time interval between the two doses can also be shortened. The experts recommend an interval of at least four weeks; if AstraZeneca is administered twice, the previous nine to twelve weeks remain.

After a few cases of thrombosis, especially in younger women, in the course of vaccination with AstraZeneca, Germany had switched to giving people under 60 years of age as a second dose, usually a different vaccine. Now this should also apply to people over 60.

Spahn: Don’t do without a second vaccination

Spahn called on citizens not to forego the second vaccination – this is particularly important to ward off the particularly infectious delta variant of the corona virus. “The more vaccinations in summer, the better autumn will be,” said the minister.

Should a third vaccination against the coronavirus be necessary “towards autumn, winter”, according to Spahn, Germany would also have the necessary amount of vaccines for this. “We will have enough vaccine to be ready for any recommendations,” he said.

The number of hospitalizations should become more important

Spahn also commented on statements made by Chancellor Helge Braun (CDU). This had in MDR said that due to the increasing number of vaccinated people in the assessment of the corona situation, other factors besides the incidence could gain in importance in the future.

Spahn said the incidence was “never the sole parameter”. It will be very important to be able to assess the stresses the clinics are exposed to in autumn and winter. His ministry is therefore currently working on a regulation that makes it more mandatory to report hospitalizations – in preparation for autumn and winter. Braun had already announced this.