Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) – Health authorities in Hesse have noticed a growing interest in corona booster vaccinations since the preparation adapted to the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 has been available. The demand in the vaccination center has been increasing since the start of booster vaccinations with this drug, said a spokeswoman for the Frankfurt health department. The adapted vaccine has been used in the vaccination center in Hesse’s largest city for a good week.
In the Gießen district, people have been able to have a booster vaccination for almost two weeks. It was still too early for an interim assessment, they said. However, one observes a “slightly higher demand for the booster vaccinations” in the vaccination center.
In the past few weeks, several advanced corona vaccines have been approved in the EU. They take into account the omicron variant that has been dominant for months. It can be used in people over the age of twelve as a booster vaccination. It is about preparations adapted to the BA.1 subline and a somewhat newer BA.4/BA.5 vaccine. In addition to Omikron, the new vaccines also take into account the original corona virus.
According to initial experience, the BA.1 vaccines are currently less in demand: A spokeswoman for the Gießen district said that interest in them had declined since the introduction of the BA.4/BA.5 agent. “Almost everyone who is currently interested in a booster vaccination is asking about the Corona vaccine BA.4 and 5”. The district of Marburg-Biedenkopf reported something similar.
