+++ breaking news +++
Pandemic
Stiko recommends a second corona booster vaccination from the age of 60
In the fight against Corona, people should continue to be vaccinated
© Dinendra Haria / Picture Alliance
The fight against the corona virus is far from over: The Standing Vaccination Commission recommends the second booster vaccination against the corona virus from the age of 60. So far, the second booster was only recommended from the age of 70.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) now officially recommends a second corona booster vaccination for people over 60 years of age. People in this age group and over the age of five with an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses as a result of an underlying disease should receive another booster, according to a statement by the committee on Thursday updating the vaccination recommendation. The Stiko is expanding its previous recommendation “with the primary goal of protecting particularly vulnerable people even better from severe Covid 19 diseases and Covid 19-related deaths”.
The further booster, preferably with an mRNA vaccine, is advisable after “three immunological events” – for example after primary immunization and the first booster vaccination or primary immunization and Sars-CoV-2 infection. The condition for the booster vaccination from the age of 60 is usually that the first booster vaccination or the last corona infection was at least six months ago. According to Stiko, the interval can only be reduced to four months in justified individual cases.
Young people from the age of 12 should be vaccinated
So far, Stiko had only recommended the second booster to people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency and an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities. The “Bild” newspaper had already reported on Monday that the recommendation for the second booster for people over 60 should be expanded.
In the updated Stiko recommendation, the committee also advocates the use of Novavax’s protein vaccine for primary immunization for young people aged 12 and over – previously it was only recommended for those aged 18 and over. Two doses should be given at least three weeks apart. In addition to vaccination, Stiko now recommends the antibody preparation Evusheld as a preventive measure to special groups aged 12 and over. It consists of two Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.