“Isn’t that too much of a good thing and just a system satisfaction?” Writes OÖN reader Gabriel Alexander and means the booster vaccination. He’s vaccinated twice, recovered once. Worries about his health because of the side effects that are often cited in some circles. He is one of many readers who turn to the OÖ Nachrichten every day with their concerns and questions. Uncertainty and doubts are still great.
“No, that’s certainly not system satisfaction, that’s scientific data,” says Tilman Königswieser, medical director at the Salzkammergut Clinic and member of the state crisis team. “Even if we would like it very much, unfortunately our immune memory against corona doesn’t last forever. You have to keep confronting it with the pathogen. A booster can’t be too much of a good thing.”
Talking about the fourth stitch
Brigitte Murauer gives food for thought that there is already talk of a fourth stitch. She is 60 years old, triple vaccinated and recovered. You won’t need a booster in the foreseeable future, says Königswieser.
But she should definitely get vaccinated before autumn, because “in September, when the risk of infection is at its highest again, we will all have to get boosters anyway.”
your concerns and questions you, dear readers, can send to us. Just send us an email reader letters @nachrichten.at.
Question 1: I have been vaccinated twice, recovered since November. Can you assure me that a booster will not have any negative effects on my health? Isn’t that too much of a good thing and just a system satisfaction? Gabriel Alexander, Neusserling
No, this is certainly not system satisfaction, this is scientific data. Even if we wish it very much, unfortunately our immune memory against Corona does not last forever. You have to keep confronting it with the pathogen. A booster can’t be too much of a good thing.
We know that the vaccination can have side effects, 99 percent of which are mild after-effects from the vaccination, such as arm pain or a slight fever, but these pass quickly. But you always have to look at the comparison, which complications can arise in the event of an infection.
Question 2: My partner has had severe joint pain since the second vaccination, and my mother’s symptoms of dementia have worsened. My girlfriend was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Is there a connection? Andrea S, email
More than ten billion vaccinations have been administered worldwide, and certain more severe side effects have already occurred thousands of times. So we know exactly what kind of profile the side effects can have. However, the ones mentioned here are not typical or very common. In addition, the side effects all occur in the circle of acquaintances, so I would recommend first discussing the clinical picture with a trusted general practitioner. Didn’t some of these diseases already exist before? Because it is very unlikely that so many in the immediate vicinity will suffer after the vaccination.
Question 3: I am 60 years old, triple vaccinated and also recovered. Now there is already talk of a fourth stitch. How does this work in my case? Is there any experience of a fourth vaccination? Brigitte Murauer, email
At the moment there is a lot of talk and speculation in public, but we still have no recommendation from the National Vaccination Committee for a fourth vaccination.
Four immune events, as in this case, result in a very high level of protection from possible further events. You no longer need a booster here. You only need to refresh when the threat is acute. In September or October, when the risk of infection is probably at its highest again, we will all have to get boosters anyway.
Question 4: I was vaccinated twice, got sick with Corona in November (a week before my third vaccination), recovered and now got sick with Corona for the second time in February. Is an antibody test or another vaccination useful? Rudolf Woess, e-mail
An antibody test immediately after an infection, as in this case, does not really make sense. In your case, I would wait a few weeks and then only get vaccinated again in the fall.
That’s the thing with the antibody tests. They are very popular with individuals of their own accord, and when you have a high value you feel a lot more confident. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. We doctors only do these tests on patients in whom we are not sure whether the vaccination has worked or whether they have even formed antibodies.
Question 5: I have been vaccinated twice with Biontech/Pfizer. The first vaccination was in early May and the second in mid-June last year. Since December 15th I have recovered. Omicron got me. When should I do the next vaccination? I ask for your advice.
Martina Rottner, email
The lady has a little peace now. The recommendations of the National Immunization Panel state that the patient should be vaccinated either six months after the second vaccination or later, just before the end of the 180 days after recovery. That would be mid-June. If she has a Green Passport and it expires, she can get vaccinated earlier.
But the most important thing is that the lady is already vaccinated at the beginning of autumn, when the next big wave is to be expected according to the current state of knowledge.
Question 6: Some time ago there was talk of herd immunity and contamination. Now I know a number of people who have long been vaccinated three times, recovered and now have Corona again. They thought they were safe or no longer understand this situation. Hubert Altenhofer, email
“I’ve been vaccinated and recovered, what should happen to me now?” That’s what many people think. The concept of immunity has been completely misunderstood by many. Immunity means that my body’s defenses can react more quickly and effectively to the virus because it already knows it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get infected or get sick.
We doctors always say that vaccination protects against a severe course. A severe course is called intensive care. If it’s been a long time since the last vaccination, it’s still easy to get infected. A lot of people who have been vaccinated feel a false sense of security. But at least they are protected from serious illness if infected.
Source: Nachrichten
