Corona vaccinations: misunderstanding in the case of alleged long-term effects

The statements by national footballer Kimmich had triggered a discussion about concerns about the long-term consequences of corona vaccinations. Many misunderstandings persist.

In view of the sharply increased incidence in Germany, numerous celebrities, politicians and experts appeal to the population to get vaccinated. However, many people still state in surveys and discussions that they are concerned that there could be long-term effects – and that there are still no long-term studies on the vaccines.

In particular, the remarks by footballer Joshua Kimmich had fueled the debate. Kimmich said he had “a few personal concerns, especially about the lack of long-term studies”. As a result, many experts emphasized: Side effects of vaccinations do not appear many months later, but within days or weeks. Since the vaccines against corona have been tested particularly often and have been used for a year, it is particularly unlikely that as yet undiscovered side effects will occur.

Questions about vaccinations in 2009 and 1976

However, users of tagesschau.de asked whether that was really true. They referred to two examples: the swine flu vaccinations in Europe in 2009 and in the USA in 1976. What about these two cases?

In 2009, millions of people in Europe were vaccinated against swine flu. Sweden was particularly quick to get involved, but a serious side effect occurred in children and adolescents: narcolepsy – a sleep-wake disorder that can severely affect the lives of those affected in the long term. A booster in the vaccine was believed to be responsible for this serious side effect.

The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) explains this on request from tagesschau.de, even with narcolepsy, the first symptoms (in Sweden) were observed between one and four months after the vaccination. In Germany, such cases were only discovered later, “but even in these cases the symptoms were present in the time window described,” according to the PEI.

The head of the Immunology Research Department at TU Dortmund University, Carsten Watzl, explains on request from tagesschau.de, from the first symptoms to the diagnosis can “sometimes take a long time” with narcolepsy. It could therefore be that “in some cases the diagnosis is only made months after vaccination; in most people, however, the symptoms appeared relatively shortly after vaccination”.

A second example cited for side effects allegedly occurring late is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after vaccinations against swine flu 45 years ago in the USA. The Paul Ehrlich Institute announced that “even after US recruits were vaccinated against the swine flu at the time in 1976, the first signs of GBS were not observed after months, but shortly after the vaccination”.

Researcher Watzl explains that “in this case it is also about a misdirected immune reaction against nerve cells, which has led to symptoms within a very short time”.

Inquiries about Mertens statements

In letters and inquiries, users of tagesschau.de on statements of the chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), Thomas Mertens. In June he hadtaz“Referred to the discussion about vaccinations for children and possible side effects on narcolepsy cases after the Pandemrix vaccination, especially in the Scandinavian countries. Mertens continues:

Most of them can still well remember that those affected still suffer from it today – and that only occurred months after the vaccination. Back in the 1970s, the United States had a flu vaccine that caused Guillan-Barré cases, even months after it was vaccinated. The connection could be clearly demonstrated because the cases suddenly occurred more frequently than in the normal population.

Upon request from tagesschau.de Mertens said that his statements were “correct in this differentiation”: GBS could actually occur several months after a vaccination, according to the STIKO boss: “There is a well-documented case, known to me, where GBS in a person after two time-independent tetanus vaccinations each occurred. ” Such cases are “really extreme rarities” and occurred in connection with very specific vaccines. In the case of mRNA vaccines, this is “certainly not a particular danger”.

Misconceptions about mRNA vaccines

Mertens points out a fundamental misunderstanding: “Many people believe that the mRNA remains in the organism of the vaccinated person after vaccination. This is of course not the case, because mRNA is completely eliminated in the cell very quickly.” It has to be like that, explains Mertens, “because mRNA is constantly accumulating in all metabolically active cells and has to be broken down”.

mRNA is “actually not a ‘genetic vaccine'”, says Mertens. Unfortunately, “this wrong terminology was introduced and is sure to lead to unfounded fears”.

“Misdirected immune response”

Researcher Watzl emphasizes that vaccinations could of course also have side effects – just like other drugs. But these are “comparatively rare, particularly serious side effects are very rare with vaccinations”. It is also important to understand: “Side effects occur with vaccinations due to the immune reaction that the vaccination provokes. Therefore, the side effects are always diseases that can also be caused by infections – since an immune reaction takes place there too. Narcolepsy can also occur there are triggered by an infection – as is Guillain-Barré syndrome. Both are caused by a misdirected immune reaction against nerve cells. ”

“Since the immune reaction to the vaccination causes the side effects, but this is over within a few weeks after the vaccination, no further damage can occur afterwards,” continued Watzl. “The autoantibodies or T cells that are formed, which are directed against the body’s own tissue, can cause damage for a long time and the symptoms can increase over time, but it is not the case that the autoantibodies or self-reactive immune cells become only form months or years after vaccination. “

Watzl complains that the subject of long-term consequences “scares many people unnecessarily about the vaccination”. “Many then imagine that there could be a common side effect for years after the vaccination. And that is now really impossible.”