It's not a relaxed pandemic summer. According to the Ministry of Health, there will be at least two vaccines adapted to virus variants in autumn. Because of numerous infections, the Minister of Health advises general caution - and the fourth vaccination.
In the Corona summer wave, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called for people to wear masks indoors and campaigned for a second booster vaccination on a broader front - not just for older people. "We will have a very difficult autumn," the SPD politician told the "Spiegel". The federal government is preparing comprehensive protective measures for this. At the same time, Lauterbach opposed assessments according to which an "infestation" of the population was being accepted. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is observing a continued high infection pressure.
Lauterbach confirmed: "I advise those who are older to get the fourth vaccination from the age of 60, because then mortality can be significantly reduced." If you want to enjoy the summer without the risk of illness, he would also recommend it to younger people "in consultation with your family doctor, of course". This significantly reduces the risk of infection for a few months. The risk of contracting Long Covid is also lower, he said in the “Spiegel” interview with a view to longer-lasting impairments. However, the chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), Thomas Mertens, opposed broad four-vaccination vaccinations for younger people as well. He did not know any data that justified such advice, he told the "Welt am Sonntag".
Lauterbach said vaccination decisions are always a decision between the doctor and those affected. The Stiko "recommends only in general". He also again advised people over 60 not to wait for vaccines adapted to newer virus variants. According to the ministry, a first preparation is expected at the beginning of September, and a second preparation at the end of September/beginning of October.
"We will have sufficient vaccines available in the fall," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health. These would "essentially" be two different adapted vaccines: On the one hand, a so-called bivalent vaccine, based on the virus variant BA.1. On the other hand, a vaccine adapted to variant BA.5. "Both will be available in sufficient quantities." According to the RKI, almost 6.2 million people or 7.5 percent of the population now have a second booster vaccination with the fourth injection that is usually necessary. For those over 60, the figure is 21.3 percent.
With a view to the continued high number of infections, Lauterbach said that he advises everyone to wear a mask indoors, especially when ventilation is poor. The RKI gave the seven-day incidence in the morning as 719.2 - after 720.4 reported new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days the day before and 699.5 a week ago. However, the incidence does not provide a complete picture - mainly because not all infected people also do PCR tests, but only these are included in the statistics. Lauterbach explained with a view to the number of unreported cases, the actual seven-day incidence should be 1400 to 1500. "We have too many cases. An infection would be something completely different."
SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich is speeding up the preparations for the time after the summer. "It is important that we prepare ourselves legally for the situation in autumn with a new infection protection law," he said. Federal states and municipalities should be allowed to take legally secure protective measures. "I hope we're still in time." He pointed out that in the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, about half of the summer holidays are over. The Corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act, which were significantly reduced in spring, expire on September 23. The government is advising on follow-up regulations.
The RKI generally sees continued high infection pressure in all age groups, as stated in the weekly report on Thursday evening. The seven-day incidence of the reported cases remained largely unchanged compared to the previous reporting week - "a plateau is emerging," wrote the institute. However, even if the number of cases remains the same, further increases in serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths can be expected. Outbreaks were reported from 235 old people’s and nursing homes (previous week: 192).
