The so-called 3-G rule has already been implemented in many places: According to this, areas of public life are only open to people who have either been vaccinated, tested or recovered. In this context, a lot has been said about those who have been vaccinated and those who have been tested – most of them should by now be clear about how to provide evidence. However, one of the three groups was hardly significant in the discussions, probably also because it is by far the smallest group: that of those who have recovered. Almost four million people in Germany are now considered to have recovered from the corona virus. However, that does not mean that all these people can claim further freedoms for themselves even after the 3-G rule.
Because people who have recovered are only given freedom if they have tested positive for the corona virus within the last six months – using a PCR test. Neither a rapid antigen test nor an antibody detection are sufficient. “After this period has expired and before a vaccination has taken place, the person is considered not fully vaccinated and also not recovered,” says the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). In addition, the positive test result must be 28 days ago. But what should be done now if one meets these requirements?
According to the RKI and BMG, there are corresponding genesis certificates for this. Like the vaccination records, these can be loaded into the apps provided, be it the Corona-Warnapp or the Covpass-App.
However, these are not yet easy to get. “Pharmacies have been issuing the digital vaccination certificate for those who have been completely vaccinated since June, and the digital vaccination certificate for those who have recovered since July,” said Christian Splett, spokesman for the Federal Association of German Pharmacists’ Associations. A digital recovery certificate has not yet been issued here. “To do this, the coronavirus test regulation must first be changed in order to enable an unbureaucratic billing process.” The portal of the German Pharmacists’ Association is technically prepared so that the pharmacies can then create the recovery certificates via a secure module like the vaccination certificates.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, such recovery certificates can currently be issued in medical practices that use the IBM web portal. To do this, people have to fall back on their once positive PCR test. Doctors’ practices that do not have the corresponding test result are not entitled to issue proof.
The “recovered” status expires after six months. If people are then vaccinated, they are considered to have recovered and need their positive PCR test as well as the vaccination certificate for this proof. These recovery vaccination certificates are available in medical practices and pharmacies. According to Stiko, full protection takes effect immediately after the first vaccination for those who have recovered. They are also considered fully vaccinated after vaccination. A second vaccination is not yet planned.
Until recently, it was said that those who had recovered should not be vaccinated until six months after their Covid 19 disease. This is now possible just four weeks after surviving an infection, but according to Stiko it should be weighed depending on the symptoms and is not advisable for everyone.
The Stiko differentiates between people with a symptomatic Sars-CoV-2 infection: Here, it still recommends vaccination six months after the infection. For people with asymptomatic Sars-CoV-2 infection, the recommended single vaccination can be given four weeks after diagnosis. And for people who have already been vaccinated against Covid-19 and then fall ill with the corona virus, the second vaccination should usually be given six months after the Covid-19 symptoms have ceased.
It is not yet clear whether and when a second booster vaccination will be necessary at a later point in time in order to maintain vaccination protection.