Schwerin (dpa/mv) - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) is expecting the first new corona vaccine adapted to the omicron variant in the northeast at the end of September or early October. This was promised by the Federal Ministry of Health, said Drese on Monday in Schwerin. The federal government announced that sufficient quantities of the vaccine would be available from the start.
According to Drese, the demand for corona vaccinations is slowly increasing again. Over the summer, only around 2,000 vaccinations per week were given in MV. Since the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommended the second booster vaccination to everyone over 60, there are now just over 3,000 a week. Initially, the second booster was only recommended to those over 70 and those with previous illnesses. The minister said she assumes that Stiko will adjust its vaccination recommendation again.
The vaccine manufacturer Biontech/Pfizer wants to deliver its new corona vaccine within a few days after the approval by the European Medicines Agency EMA, which is expected shortly. "We can deliver very promptly, hopefully from the beginning of September," company boss Ugur Sahin told the "Spiegel". The EMA recently announced that the responsible committee wants to decide on the applications from Biontech/Pfizer and the US company Moderna for approval of their vaccines adapted to the subtype BA.1 on September 1st.
In Germany, this variant no longer plays a role. The hope is that this vaccine will also work better against the currently circulating variants.
The EMA is also currently testing a corona vaccine from the Mainz-based company and its US partner Pfizer that has been adapted to the current Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Biontech is currently submitting the last documents to the EMA, Sahin told the "Spiegel": "Then things can go quickly here too."
