OÖN: The number of cases in Upper Austria is single-digit, the opening steps are set ever faster. Is the Pandemic Over?
Bernd Lamprecht: The situation is really good right now. This has seasonal reasons – we spend a lot of time outdoors, the humidity is higher – and of course there is good vaccination progress. Also helpful was the discipline with which people adhered to the measures, which have been shown to be very effective.
What do you think of the announced end of the mask requirement?
The current numbers justify this approach. But we have to exercise caution and watch the infection process. If there are increases again, it is important to react with measures. I would not describe the removal of the masks as the final step, but as a pleasant intermediate step. So: don’t throw away masks right away, we’ll probably still need them. What we do or not do now in summer will determine how autumn and winter will go.
- Video: The Linz corona expert Bernd Lamprecht answers all current questions about the virus – the entire interview
50 percent of Austrians are vaccinated, 650,000 have recovered. Is a fourth wave even possible mathematically?
Yes, because part of the population is still not protected.
Is this part so large that the hospitals could again be overburdened and even overloaded?
From a medical point of view, we are confident that vaccinating those people who have a particularly high risk of a severe course will bring lasting relief to the health system, or has already brought it. This is also evident in other countries: the number of cases is increasing, but the number of stays in hospitals is not. That means the vaccination program is successful. And it is the airbag that we hoped for.
Great Britain and Israel are scaling back the easing because of the Delta variant. Can we expect something similar in Austria?
It is difficult to imagine that what is happening in other countries will not be repeated in Austria. The spread of the delta variant will not stop here and will soon be the dominant virus variant. The share is currently 25 percent.
What do we know about Delta? Is this variant of the virus more contagious and aggressive?
We see that the Delta variant is about 50 to 60 percent more easily transmissible than the Alpha variant, i.e. the British mutation. It is more contagious because it mainly spreads in the nasopharynx and can be transmitted more easily when speaking, laughing or singing. However – and this is the good news – people with full vaccination protection have protection against severe courses even with this variant.
How effective are the vaccinations in terms of the risk of disease and the transmission of the virus?
There is no 100 percent effectiveness in adults. Studies in children have shown 100 percent effectiveness. In adults, we are 90 percent effective against a severe course. And if you take into account that with the coronavirus you have a rather low individual risk of getting seriously ill from the outset, and this is reduced by 90 percent, that is already excellent protection. However, the side effects of the vaccines must be taken into account. There are few cases, but the benefits far outweigh the risk of these rare side effects.
Does vaccination outweigh the individual benefit or the benefit to society as a whole?
It depends on age. An older person has – in relation to their individual risk – an even greater benefit because their risk of becoming seriously ill is higher. But everyone benefits because a severe course becomes less likely for them personally. At the same time, the risk of transmission to others is significantly reduced. We know that a vaccinated person’s ability to transmit is reduced by 75 percent. Those who consider the vaccination to be necessary for themselves can use it to create environmental protection for other people whose immune systems are weakened.
What do you think of vaccinating children from the age of twelve?
The data we have shows a high level of effectiveness and security. But we have no long-term experience with the vaccines. But we don’t know that either about the virus infection. If I had the choice between infection and vaccination, I would advocate vaccination.
Current studies suggest that after vaccination there could be longer lasting protection.
The data condense and suggest that with full immunization there is long-lasting protection. We are talking about nine months, or possibly even more than a year. There will be clearer information in the autumn.
The travel season is approaching. Would you personally book a flight or would you rather go by car?
I will not travel by plane, although this is quite possible with the established safety regulations. But it is also important to exercise caution at the holiday destination itself.
Is a fourth wave conceivable with returnees?
We are starting this autumn with completely different requirements, a large part has vaccination protection and therefore does not go into the colder season with the same risk. Smaller waves are to be expected because there will be transmissions again for those that are not yet protected. This means that the number of infections will also rise again.
So nothing is over yet?
It’s not over, but it’s decidedly better.
