Schwerin (dpa/mv) - According to the Schwerin Ministry of Health, the vaccination campaign with the Omikron vaccines that have been available since September is gaining momentum. Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) announced on Thursday that demand had increased further in the past week. 11,835 booster vaccinations were administered in the medical practices and vaccination centers - a good 3,000 more than in the week before.
Almost half of these vaccinations are second booster vaccinations. "It's gratifying that 25.6 percent of those over 60 have now received a second booster vaccination," said Drese. For this age group there is a clear vaccination recommendation from the Standing Vaccination Commission Stiko. People with an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses as a result of an underlying disease, residents of nursing or disabled facilities and medical and nursing staff should therefore be vaccinated again. Drese also advised younger people whose last corona vaccination or corona infection was more than six months ago to seek medical advice as to whether a booster vaccination makes sense for them.
The minister warned against overestimating the current relaxation in corona infections. The burden due to infection-related staff absences is still high. The further development of new variants must also be awaited. "The omicron variant BQ. 1.1 was also sequenced for the first time in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on October 25," explained Drese. This variant is said to have the potential to displace the currently dominant BA.5 variant and thus contribute to a new winter wave. "Therefore we should remain cautious and maintain the basic protective measures," she appealed.
