Saturday 20th February 2021
First Astrazeneca, then Biontech?
Re-vaccination should be possible without any problems, says Spahn
If you get an Astrazeneca vaccination now, you may want to get another vaccination in a few months, then with Biontech or Moderna. That is not a problem, says Health Minister Spahn.
After vaccination with the Astrazeneca preparation, according to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, a re-vaccination with another active ingredient is conceivable at a later date. The CDU politician said in a live discussion organized by the Ministry of Health that this would be "easily possible" if all those willing to be vaccinated were vaccinated at the end of the year and the vaccine was still available.
The question was asked by a 58-year-old from Nuremberg who is a high-risk patient with various previous illnesses and who also cares for his father. Because of his age, he should be vaccinated with Astrazeneca. "Can you get vaccinated again later?", Spahn summarized the question and replied: "Yes." A third vaccination may be required in general, "we don't even know that".
Johnson & Johnson approved in two to four weeks
The President of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Klaus Cichutek, pointed out that the question of post-vaccinations had not yet been clarified, "we will deal with that later". Both Spahn and Cichutek also said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will most likely get approval in the next two to four weeks.
However, Cichutek emphasized that Astrazeneca was "a great vaccine". Compared to the preparations from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna, the lower effect of 70 percent means that in 100 people 70 are protected – but that in the infected 30 severe courses can be avoided. So it is not that the 30 percent are unprotected. "This is a very potent vaccine, just like the other two. It prevents hospitalizations and that is very good news for all of us."
This was also emphasized by the head of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler. "To speak of a two-tier vaccine is wrong because all of these vaccines offer a high level of protection." This is "a scandalous term that I cannot understand".
The participants in the discussion strongly encouraged the use of the vaccination appointments that were offered. "This virus will not leave us, this virus will not go away," said Wieler. The goal of basic immunity for the population can be achieved in two ways – through vaccination or through disease. The much more pleasant way is vaccination.
At the same time, Wieler pointed out that the practiced measures such as distance, face mask and hygiene are still important. "Vaccination is a tool, but we must not neglect the other tools."
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