It is already recommended for some groups in Germany: the fourth corona vaccination or the second booster. However, the recommendation should not yet come for the entire population. Stiko boss Mertens currently sees no basis for a reliable recommendation.
For the time being, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) does not want to issue a general recommendation for a second corona booster vaccination for all population groups. A new vaccination recommendation is currently not possible and not possible for anyone, “because we don’t know when which new vaccines will be available,” said Stiko chairman Thomas Mertens of the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition).
“We don’t know anything about the variants that can occur in late summer and autumn,” emphasized Mertens. Therefore, “the basis for a solid, justifiable recommendation” is currently missing.
Stiko: Recommendation only makes sense after the summer
So far, Stiko has only recommended the second booster vaccination for certain population groups, such as people over the age of 70, staff in medical and nursing facilities and people with immunodeficiency. “More can not be said at the moment,” said Mertens. A renewed statement from the Stiko on a possible general second booster vaccination will “only make sense after the summer”.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had “urgently” recommended that older people and those with previous illnesses be vaccinated again this week in view of the virus variant that is currently circulating. According to Lauterbach’s assessment, Germany is already in the middle of the new corona wave.
Source: Stern
