Third spades
The incidences are rising and the calls for the booster vaccination are getting louder
The number of corona infections in Germany continues to rise. The vaccination against Covid-19 offers protection, but this should be refreshed at times, especially among particularly vulnerable patient groups, says Munich-based infectious agent Christoph Spinner. “In my opinion, the booster vaccinations are now very central. Especially for chronically ill people, for the elderly, some of whom were vaccinated more than six months ago, where we can also see from data from Israel and other countries that the likelihood of an infection, Partly with hospital progression despite vaccination, increases over time. I don’t think it can yet be conclusively assessed whether booster vaccinations are really necessary in the general population. One thing is certain: the higher the antibody response from vaccination, even after boosting, the lower the risk of infection. ” A Wooster vaccination does not cause any damage, according to the doctor. And: “In the last few days we have seen a lot younger people who present themselves to the clinic with severe forms of COVID-19 because the proportion of those who have not been vaccinated, especially among the younger ones, is higher.” Again and again there is talk of so-called vaccination breakthroughs. Do illnesses, despite vaccination, question the sense of immunization? “The Delta variant is much more infectious and therefore the vaccinations no longer protect against infections as reliably as against the original Wuhan wild type. This means that if an infection occurs despite the vaccination, it does not mean that the vaccination is not working. On the contrary, those vaccinated can rely on the fact that the course of the COVID-19 disease is much milder and less pronounced. ” An increase in the number of infections and a possible increase in diseases will also affect hospitals and clinics. “To put it simply, the more people are infected, the higher the infection incidence, the more likely it is that hospital occupancy will increase significantly in the respective region, and of course it also makes sense to react regionally to this, whereby we are also in supraregional areas Support Bavaria. ” The Robert Koch Institute reported 24,668 new corona cases. That is 5096 positive tests more than on Friday a week ago. The seven-day incidence rose significantly to 139.2 from 130 the previous day. The acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn called on the federal states to pay more attention to testing in view of the increasing number of infections.
In December 2020, the first were vaccinated against Corona. But the further back the vaccination, the lower the protection. Politicians and experts therefore recommend a refresher.
In view of the increasing corona numbers, calls for quick and comprehensive booster vaccinations are getting louder. Anyone who does a so-called booster vaccination “also does something to ensure that we get through the winter safely,” said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) on the rbb information radio. The SPD health expert Sabine Dittmar called for more speed with the third vaccinations. According to the ZDF “Politbarometer”, more people in Germany see their health at risk from Corona.
According to Spahn, elderly people, people in need of care or medical staff in particular should take advantage of the booster vaccination option. There was also enough vaccine that anyone who wanted could get a booster vaccination, he said. The example of Israel shows that a wave can be broken because “the refreshed vaccinated person is actually less infectious”.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommended booster vaccinations for people over 70 years of age at the beginning of October. In addition, residents of old people’s homes and nursing staff are to be offered a third dose of vaccine.
1.9 million boosted so far
A spokesman for Spahns referred to the recommendation of the Conference of Health Ministers (GMK) to initially give a booster vaccination to everyone over 60 and people with previous illnesses. “But this is already possible for everyone else,” emphasized the spokesman.
The SPD politician Dittmar told the AFP news agency that it was obvious “that we are too slow”. At the end of April 2021, almost six million citizens were vaccinated twice. That means that they should get a booster vaccination six months later.
“Instead of these six million, we only count 1.9 million people with booster vaccinations,” criticized Dittmar. The federal and state governments as well as the resident doctors should “do everything they can to educate patients and citizens.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) explains in its current weekly report that with the current seven-day incidences there is “an increasing probability of infectious contacts”. It is therefore strongly recommended to use the vaccination offer including the opportunity to refresh. The seven-day incidence rose to 139.2 per 100,000 population on Friday. On Thursday it was 130.2.
Saxony allows booster vaccinations for everyone over the age of 18
In Saxony, everyone aged 18 and over can get a booster vaccination against the coronavirus from November 1st. This follows from a recommendation by the Saxon Vaccination Commission (SIKO), as announced by the State Ministry of Social Affairs. According to the information, the so-called booster vaccination with an mRNA vaccine is possible at the earliest six months after completion of the basic immunization. The latest data would provide impressive evidence of a risk reduction for all age groups.
For certain groups of people, such as the elderly and people with previous illnesses, there has been a recommendation for the booster vaccination for a long time. The number of infections in Saxony has recently risen sharply.
According to the Ministry, the vaccination commission has adjusted its recommendation regarding the vaccine from Moderna as a precaution. This is now recommended from the age of 30. The vaccine is approved from 12 years of age. “The background to this is the latest studies from October, which indicate a somewhat greater increase in cardiac muscle and pericardial inflammation in adolescents and young adults. Such side effects, which can usually occur within 14 days of the vaccination, are in the age group in Saxony not known up to 30 years. ” In addition, they are very rare. This applies equally to both mRNA vaccines.
“It is purely a precautionary measure. We are responding to the latest scientific findings and a recommendation made by the vaccination commission,” said Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD). A vaccination reliably protects against severe Covid-19 courses. This applies to each of the approved vaccines.
Less than 50 percent have concerns about the current situation
In the new ZDF “Politbarometer”, 47 percent of those surveyed said they saw their health at risk from Corona. At the beginning of October it was only 31 percent. 51 percent, on the other hand, do not consider themselves to be at risk.
In the event that the number of cases continues to rise sharply, 43 percent of all respondents expect that the same high levels of stress will arise in the hospitals as in the previous corona waves, it said. 50 percent do not have this fear.
Left criticizes the health system
The incumbent head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun (CDU), brought up a conference of prime ministers. Such a meeting is “possible at any time,” he said in the RTL / ntv interview. But that must come from the countries.
Faced with the threat of overburdening the hospitals, the left called for political corrections. “The Corona winter has not even started and the intensive care units are already at their limit again,” said party leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow. The fault lies in the system. The flat-rate billing of treatments had “made profit orientation dominant in hospitals”. The less lucrative care is saved, even in the intensive care units.