Status: 07/15/2022 02:06 a.m
In view of the increasing incidences, Health Minister Lauterbach has also recommended a fourth corona vaccination for those under 60. Meanwhile, President of the Bundestag Bas said that a “contagion” was currently taking place.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also recommends a fourth corona vaccination for people under the age of 60. “If someone wants to enjoy the summer and doesn’t want to take the risk of getting sick, then I would of course recommend the vaccination to younger people in consultation with the family doctor,” Lauterbach told the “Spiegel”. “Then you just have a completely different level of security.” The long-Covid risk is “significantly reduced for a few months,” as is the risk of infection, Lauterbach said.
Omicron vaccine from autumn
People could also take a vaccine adapted to Omicron after the fourth vaccination. Such a vaccine could be available in late August or early September, but that depends on approval, said the health minister.
Lauterbach thus goes beyond the recommendations of the EU and the Standing Vaccination Commission. On Monday, the EU recommended a second booster vaccination for people over the age of 60. In Germany, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) has so far recommended a second booster vaccination for people over the age of 70, at-risk patients and residents of care facilities and employees in the medical field and in care facilities.
Bas speaks of “infestation”
Meanwhile, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas admitted that the population was currently being infected. Nevertheless, she was optimistic. “Even if the epidemic sounds bad – it’s happening right now,” Bas also told the “Spiegel”. If you want to wear a mask, do it. But most of them didn’t do that anymore. “All in all, I’m relatively relaxed about the fall.” Germany is well positioned with the vaccines, even if they did not prevent transmission, said the President of Parliament.
It depends on whether we get virus variants from autumn that cause more severe courses than omicron. “If not, then we should say: If you’re sick, you stay at home. Just like you would reasonably deal with any other illness.”
With a view to possible protective measures for the fall, Bas called for a mask requirement indoors. This is also advisable in winter because of other infectious diseases. “And the fourth vaccination should then make sense for many.”