Johnson & Johnson: Two instead of one syringe for basic protection – health

The greatest continuity in the pandemic is change. This applies to the Sars-CoV-2 virus, to vaccination and especially to the rules to contain the infection. A recent innovation affects those people who have been vaccinated with the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, which was previously considered a one-time vaccine. According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, complete basic protection through vaccination with this vaccine will only exist in Germany in the future if the first vaccination is followed by a second vaccination. The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has changed the criteria for the vaccination status with this vaccine, also known as “Janssen”, accordingly. The rules in Germany will thus deviate from the EU approval in the future, which still only provides for one vaccine dose for basic immunization.

The second vaccination that is now required in Germany should be carried out with an mRNA vaccine, i.e. that of Biontech/Pfizer or Moderna, whereby vaccination with Moderna is only recommended from the age of 30. Full protection is also necessary to comply with 2G access rules. A corresponding requirement has been in effect since the weekend and is now being implemented, according to the spokesman. With this step one should Recommendation of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko), according to which all “persons aged 18 and over who have been vaccinated with one vaccine dose and who have been vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson should receive an additional vaccine dose to optimize their vaccination protection”. The immunization with mRNA vaccine as a second vaccination dose is recommended regardless of the time of the first vaccination – but a minimum interval of four weeks should be observed. After three more months, another vaccination with mRNA vaccine should be given, which is then considered a booster.

It has long been known that the vaccine protection after administration of the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson wears off faster than after other vaccines. Up to five million people have received the vaccine in Germany. It was preferred by professional athletes because they believed they would only have to experience the slight reduction in performance that can occur after vaccination once and would therefore take fewer breaks.

So far, an additional injection was counted as “boosted” in some places

As early as autumn, the discussion about boosters showed that another vaccination after an injection with the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson would be due sooner than after other vaccines. The following now applies: After the one-time injection Johnson & Johnson, the vaccination protection should be refreshed after four weeks, which corresponds to the usual vaccination interval for the other double vaccinations for the basic immunization. A third vaccination also makes sense after the Johnson & Johnson first vaccination and a second vaccination, according to the spokesman for the Ministry of Health. So far, in some federal states, people who have been vaccinated for the first time with the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson count as “boostered” after just one further vaccination when it comes to the 2-G-plus rule and only those who have been fully vaccinated and those who have recovered were allowed to enter cultural events, for example. who were also tested or had received a booster vaccination.

Some people online are outraged that people who have been vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson are being deprived of their fully vaccinated status “overnight” and are thus denied access to 2G areas. However, the fact that the new rule could be based on new knowledge about virus variants and vaccines is hardly considered.

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