“Nobody plans to do boosters all the time now”
“We are dependent on press releases from the manufacturers”
When asked when an omicron vaccine can be expected, Stiko boss Mertens says at WELT: “We are currently dependent on press releases from the manufacturers. We know that Biontech and Moderna have started studies. But there is no data on that yet.”
The Stiko recommends parts of the population to be vaccinated against Corona a fourth time. Stiko boss Mertens defends this against WELT. Criticism, on the other hand, comes from lung specialist Voshaar. He sees “no indication for a fourth vaccination with the same vaccine”.
Dhe head of the Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) Thomas Mertens defended the Stiko’s recommendation for a fourth vaccination for vulnerable groups. In an interview with WELT, he said: “No one intends to constantly administer booster vaccinations.” The new recommendation is only about “getting over the current wave and better protecting those who are particularly vulnerable”.
At the beginning of the week there were talks with scientists in Israel, from which it became clear that a fourth vaccination made sense. Mertens referred to a study, which proves this. The protection against a serious illness also decreases after the third dose, so one has to consider “how to build up the protection again”. This should happen with the fourth vaccination: “We are currently facing a mountain and want this mountain to roll over us lightly.”
According to Mertens, the aim of this measure is expressly not to avoid infections: “It’s not about epidemiological effects.”
Criticism from lung specialist Voshaar: “I see no indication”
Criticism of Stiko’s recommendation came from Thomas Voshaar, chief physician at the clinic for pulmonary and bronchial medicine at the Bethanien Hospital in Moers: “I see no indication for a fourth vaccination with the same vaccine,” he said in an interview with WELT.
“We forget that this vaccine was developed for the original virus,” says Voshaar. He referred to the possible risks of the decision: “On the one hand, there is the question of whether this really has an additional positive effect. On the other hand, in view of possible side effects, it is completely unclear whether the benefit-risk ratio is still the same as with the first, second or third vaccination.”
Voshaar has been publicly calling for a return to normal for weeks – most recently on the ARD talk show Maischberger on Wednesday evening.
Stiko recommends fourth vaccination for vulnerable groups
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) advocates a second booster vaccination for health-prone and exposed groups. She also spoke out in favor of the corona vaccination with the vaccine from the manufacturer Novavax for people over 18. This was announced by the panel of experts on Thursday for two draft resolutions.
For people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities, Stiko believes that there should be a second booster vaccination with an mRNA vaccine after the basic immunization and the first booster vaccination have been completed. In the case of people at risk of health, this should take place no earlier than three months after the first booster vaccination, and staff in medical and nursing facilities should receive the second booster after six months at the earliest.
To justify this, the committee stated that current data showed a dwindling protection against infection after the first booster vaccination against the omicron variant within a few months. This is a risk especially for people over 70 and people with immunodeficiency, who are most at risk for a severe course of an infection. The second booster should now improve the protection.
However, no further booster is recommended for people who have had a corona infection after the first booster vaccination. Stiko assumes that the second booster will be tolerated similarly to the first. However, the panel also stated “that the data on the effectiveness and safety of a second booster vaccination is still limited”.
Stiko also advocated vaccinating the Novavax vaccine on adults. The active ingredient should be used in addition to the previous Covid 19 vaccines for basic immunization with two doses at least three weeks apart in people over 18. However, the vaccine is currently not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
These are not final Stiko recommendations, a coordination process with professional societies and countries is still underway. Changes are still possible.
“Efficacy comparable to mRNA vaccines”
The preparation Nuvaxovid from the US manufacturer Novavax, which has been approved in the EU since the end of December, is – unlike the other approved vaccines – a protein vaccine with an effect enhancer. “In the approval studies, the vaccine showed an efficacy comparable to that of the mRNA vaccines,” Stiko explained. However, no statements can yet be made on the clinical effectiveness against the omicron variant.
The Novavax vaccine, which should be available in Germany from February 21, can lead to vaccination reactions that are similar to those of the other approved vaccines against the corona virus. “The pivotal studies did not reveal any safety concerns regarding serious adverse effects after vaccination,” writes the Stiko. However, the data on Nuvaxovid is still limited.
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