Anyone who has already received a booster vaccination and is over 60 years old can now officially pick up a second booster. The STIKO updates its corresponding recommendation – and also mentions a distance to the last vaccination.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) now officially recommends a second corona booster vaccination for people over 60 years of age. People in this age group and over the age of five with an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses as a result of an underlying disease should receive another booster, according to a statement by the committee updating the vaccination recommendation. The STIKO is expanding its previous recommendation “with the primary goal of protecting particularly vulnerable people even better from severe Covid 19 diseases and Covid 19-related deaths”.
The further booster, preferably with an mRNA vaccine, is advisable after “three immunological events” – for example after primary immunization and the first booster vaccination or primary immunization and Sars-CoV-2 infection. The condition for the booster vaccination from the age of 60 is usually that the first booster vaccination or the last corona infection was at least six months ago. The interval can only be reduced to four months in justified individual cases.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach welcomed the new recommendation. The SPD politician told the news portal “t-online” that he was glad that STIKO had taken this important step, which he felt was due. “I strongly advise citizens over 60 to follow the advice of the STIKO and not wait for the new vaccines.” The number of cases and deaths is still too high. However, the vaccines available in Germany reliably protected against death and serious illness.
So far, STIKO had only recommended the second booster to people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency and an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities.
In the updated STIKO recommendation, the committee also advocates the use of the protein vaccine from Novavax for basic immunization for young people aged 12 and over – previously it was only recommended from the age of 18. Two doses should be given at least three weeks apart. In addition to the vaccination, the STIKO now recommends the antibody preparation Evusheld as a preventive measure to special groups aged 12 and over. It consists of two Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Meanwhile, the independent vaccination council of the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending the administration of a second corona booster vaccination for older people for the first time. Council President (Sage), Alejandro Cravioto, stressed in Geneva that this does not mean a recommendation for a regular refresher every four to six months.
The Vaccination Council left the exact age group open in its recommendation. Each country must decide for itself at what age it wants to offer second booster vaccinations. They should ideally be given four to six months after the first booster vaccination. In addition, the vaccination council recommends second boosters for health workers of all ages and people with a weakened immune system or other diseases that increase the risk of serious illness after a corona infection.
